Michael Mbai

Craft is reproduction- Art is one off!!

My sculptures are carved from found and cut wood. The wood is in the form of roots and branches.
I think about the value a piece of wood will attain when it is turned into a sculpture.
Once I find a root, I think about resurrecting it into something with an action, something that has meaning and purpose.
I think about the many roots waiting to be firewood, and how to save them from being destroyed and turned into ashes.

Self-expression

What is conceived in my mind is transferred to the root.
I transform the dead wood into something with action.
It is through the movement that I express myself:
Flying bird, feeding bird, lion biting the leg of a zebra, bird taking off with an octopus.
Some pieces have a message: Soldier of peace, Harvesting, etc.

Self-satisfaction

I think about the final product: Does the manifestation fulfill my vision?
If it looks good to my eyes, then I think about how others will perceive it.
Meeting the expectations of others can be challenging, especially for commissioned works.