JOHAN AMIEMBA
Johan Amiemba( b. 1976, Brokopondo, Suriname) lives and works in Cayenne, French Guiana. A member of the Saamaka community descended from Africans who escaped slavery, he carries on his community’ s traditions as a sculptor, practicing the traditional craftsmanship of the Bushinengue, or Surinamese Maroon, culture. Trained in wood carving by his father, Amiemba draws inspiration from the motifs of Tembe Art to bring to life his creations, which are primarily made of lemongrass wood, known as bwa sitronèl in Creole or bois citronnelle in French. Numerous artifacts in a Tembe Art style have been made since the nineteenth century, including many everyday objects such as benches, combs, plates, calabash dippers, and paddles.
Amiemba specializes in making combs, a choice that allows him to explore the theme of love— such objects have powerful romantic symbolism in his community. Each piece he creates is unique, as for him wood is the bearer of emotions, with each work demanding a new interpretation. Among his creations Peigne( Comb)( 2024) stands out as an ornamental object intended to be given to a loved one. The lines and shapes carved into the wood reflect ancestral knowledge, holding within them the secrets of the bonds that unite two people. For Amiemba, each curve and pattern evokes love or friendship, as suggested by his interactions with the people who commission his work.( NouN and T2i)
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