El Anatsui, born 1944, Ghana (active in Nigeria) Search this
Medium:
Repurposed printed aluminum, copper
Dimensions:
H x W (flat): 274.3 x 350.5cm (108 x 138in.)
H x W x D (installed): 256.5 × 284.5 × 27.9cm (101 × 112 × 11in.)
Type:
Sculpture
Geography:
Ghana
Nigeria
Date:
2009
Label Text:
Artist El Anatsui's recent body of work creatively transforms discarded metal objects into wall and floor sculptures that address global ideas about the environment, consumerism and the social history and memory of the "stuff" of our lives. This construction is one of his large wall sculptures or "cloths" made with recycled metals gathered in and around Nsukka, Nigeria, where Anatsui lives and works. His use of recycled materials recognizes that human creativity and ingenuity are employed in creating something from available resources, including items that are discarded. The artist's "cloth" works also celebrate the woven and stamped textile traditions that remain vibrant in Ghana and Nigeria today. The sewn metal sheets of this and other artworks made of recycled metals can easily be folded and assembled, adding a sense of performance as his works take on new shapes in response to a gallery's space. His metal constructs are also easy to disassemble and transport, reflecting what he calls a "nomadic aesthetic" and the long-standing concern of artists everywhere over the high costs of crating and shipping large artworks.
Description:
Metallic textile-like construction, primarily of gold coloration accented with red and other colors, made with strips of recycled metals and organized in horizontal and vertical arrangements. The composition includes some openwork segments and an uneven border.
Exhibition History:
African Mosaic: Selections from the Permanent Collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 19, 2013–August 12, 2019 (installed November 19, 2014)
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
Credit Line:
Gift of the artist; gift of Noah Samara and Doreen Bassin; and purchased with funds provided by the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment
