The Ekkö Stool collection is the result of an introspective journey that led Estelle Yomeda to discover ancient know-how through encounters with local craftsmen in Togo. The Ekkö Stool collection presents three independent sculptures made of two types of wood stacked on top of each other, thus evoking totem poles and serving as stools. Although the notion of totem in West Africa is not necessarily associated with a sculpture, it is nevertheless manifested by the symbolic power that the totem represents. To this end, a totem can be associated with a protective or defensive entity that has a sacred meaning for the person or family through a prohibition.

The two distinct types of wood composing each totem are assembled to form a new entity. They refer to the notion of crossbreeding in a general way and more particularly in resonance with the personal history of the artist. From a structural point of view, each totem is composed of a solid Melina wood base on which are stacked circular cassia wood plates. The Melina (Gmelina Arborea) gives the base of the totems its pale blond colour while the Cassia (Cassia Simea) gives the circular trays a darker tone. Both Melina and Cassia wood are locally sourced in Togo. Melina is a strong tree for its weight and is used as a construction wood. Cassia is most often used as a reforestation and soil protection tree in the dry areas of Africa and Southeast Asia. Both are fast-growing trees and are therefore of interest in a sustainable environmental approach dear to the artist. Limited edition of 20. Signed and numbered.