Lamellophone c. mid 20th century

This Lamellophone, made by the Luba people, is a fascinating thing of carved wood and metal. It’s not just an object, it's a process waiting to happen. You can almost feel the hands that shaped the wood, filed the metal, and created those carved heads. There is an interesting meeting of the organic and inorganic. The wood and the metal present a contrast between warmth and coolness, softness and hardness. Look at the keys – each one is slightly different, each has a story of its own making. The way the metal catches the light, you can almost hear the music it would make, the sounds of ceremony and celebration. It reminds me of work by the artist Terry Adkins, in that both artists harness the sculptural and sonic qualities of found or forged objects. Ultimately this object is about the endless possibilities of artmaking, and how even the simplest materials can be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful.