I Can Fly

I Can Fly

In November 2020 I spent a few days at a camp called Meno A Kwena, on the Boteti River, 100 km east of Maun in northern Botswana.

As always when travelling, I brought a hand saw and an adze for possible wood findings. This time I roamed around near the camp area in anticipation of finding some old dark hard wood. There were many good sized Shepherd Trees, Motlopi in Setswana, or Boscia albitrunca, all in one area. The local people have great respect for this tree, as it is an important food source for cattle and wild animals, especially in time of drought.

There was a broken and hooked-in dry branch hanging down and I had to climb on to the bonnet of my vehicle to cut it with my hand saw. Its energetic shape enchanted me and I felt determined to carve it.

This was my first time in Botswana to work with such light-colored wood, which is, despite its light appearance,  strong and heavy. Its natural form and inner story guided me to bring out something quite different from the work I had done before. The sculpture is titled “I Can Fly”.