Emanuel Uka

What drives you to create?

I love working with stone using traditional techniques to bring unique objects to life. The search for ever-new forms pushes me to experiment, seeking harmony between the varying textures and colours of the materials I use.

What inspires you?

Sometimes it’s the material itself — its appearance suggests the shape I’ll draw out through my work. Other times, it’s the desire to blend beauty of form with functionality that leads me to observe the world around me more attentively. I also draw inspiration from the work of master artisans of the past.

How do you bring your works to life?

Marble — this extraordinary creation of nature — becomes, through human hands, an essential element for artworks both ancient and contemporary, as well as for precious decorative objects. I work with it entirely by hand. From the raw block, I mark the lines to remove excess material, then use chisels and other tools to carve the desired shape. The final stage is the finishing — polishing, smoothing, or bush-hammering — which enhances the natural beauty and character of the stone.