Masks Unmasked: A Semiological Interpretation of Masks in Sculpture

Masks Unmasked: A Semiological Interpretation of Masks in Sculpture is a PhD studio-based work by Cyril Senyo Kpodo. The masks, executed in the round, are grounded in semiotics, particularly the study of signs, symbols, and the processes through which meaning is produced and interpreted. The works explore how visual forms function as signifying elements, inviting viewers to move beyond surface appearance toward deeper layers of cultural, symbolic, and conceptual interpretation. A distinctive feature of this body of work is the use of wood and found materials, including fragments of broken-down canoes collected along the shores of Winneba Beach. Through artistic transformation, these discarded objects are recontextualised and brought back to life as sculptural forms. This process not only gives aesthetic value to abandoned materials but also reinforces the conceptual intent of the work by linking material recovery with symbolic reinterpretation. Within this framework, the masks operate as visual texts through which meaning is encoded and decoded. The project, therefore, demonstrates how sculpture can serve as a medium for semiological inquiry, where form, material, and symbolism converge to generate multiple layers of interpretation.