Ugandan sculptor Donald Wasswa is captivating the art world with his extraordinary wooden creations that blur the line between familiar marine life and otherworldly creatures from a speculative future. Based in Kampala, Uganda, Wasswa crafts his distinctive sculptures using albizia wood from silk trees, rich ebony, and intricate copper details to create bold forms that evoke imagined living beings.
Wasswa's artistic practice centers on exploring the complex relationships and evolution between science, technology, society, and environmental transformation. His sculptures present a fascinating duality – while they loosely resemble tentacled jellyfish with organic, flowing forms, they simultaneously possess an unsettling darkness and sharpness that challenges viewers' expectations. This deliberate contrast creates a distinctive tension between the familiar and the unknown, bridging the gap between sentient creatures and the realm of science fiction.
The artist's creative process involves the careful manipulation of natural materials to reveal what he considers the "secret lives" of familiar objects. According to Circle Art Gallery, which represents Wasswa, the artist contemplates how these transformed objects might, in turn, influence and determine the future of humanity. This philosophical approach adds layers of meaning to each sculpture, transforming them from mere artistic objects into speculative artifacts from possible futures.
Wasswa's 2025 collection features several remarkable pieces, each with distinct characteristics and dimensions. "Lutamaguzi" measures 22 x 17 x 14 centimeters, while the larger "Kayondo" spans 40 x 26 x 28 centimeters. Other notable works include "Muganzi" (40 x 34 x 20 centimeters), "Muhangi" (30 x 38 x 30 centimeters), "Gyagenda" (34 x 24 x 20 centimeters), and "Kyomuhendo" (38 x 36 x 25 centimeters). Each piece demonstrates Wasswa's masterful combination of albizia, ebony, and copper elements.
Art enthusiasts and collectors will have the opportunity to experience Wasswa's work firsthand this fall in London. His sculptures will be featured at 1-54, the renowned contemporary African art fair, which runs from October 16 to 19. This presentation will offer international audiences a chance to engage with Wasswa's unique vision and his exploration of speculative futures through the lens of traditional African materials and contemporary artistic concepts.
