The Carpenter of Kiwengwa

The Carpenter of Kiwengwa

Kiwengwa, Zanzibar 2017 20 photos

An afternoon with one craftsman on the beach at Kiwengwa, October 2017. An open-air workshop between the palms and the tide line, Tingatinga paintings for a back wall, and a carved Zanzibari chest taking shape under an adze, one certain stroke at a time.

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The carpenter's open-air workshop on Kiwengwa beach, the sea just beyond the stall At the bench, Tingatinga paintings hung as the workshop's back wall Steadying the carved chest upright for the next cut Portrait with the adze mid-stroke Shaping the chest wall with short, certain strokes The chest cradled against his hip while the blade works Close detail work along the carved panel Truing the edge of the lid Steady hands, soft wood, patient blade Reading the grain before the next stroke Complete focus on a single carved line A pause between strokes to check the line Turning the chest to bring a new panel under the blade Testing the fit of the lid against the body In profile over the workbench, the afternoon light raking the wood A laugh between strokes The craftsman's smile, chest in hand Finishing strokes along the carved front Bench work in the warming afternoon light The carved chest, very nearly done