El AnatsuiModern African Art

Materials: Found driftwood burned and held together with nails.Meaning: Wood washed ashore represents each of the Africans who crossed the sea during the Danish slave trade.

How can “found

objects” be used to tell a

story?El Anatsui began by working with wood.

Materials: Carved and

burned strips of wood, paint

“Conspirators”

El’s pieces are meant to be “non-fixed.” This

means, they are movable and able to

be displayed in different ways. He

leaves the decision up to the

gallery/museum.Why do you think he chooses to make his artwork “non-fixed”?

If you were in charge of

installing this artwork, how

would you arrange it and

why?

Materials: Tin can lids, connected

with copper wire.Meaning:

These can lids come from the tops of powdered and

condensed milk, widely used in Nigeria because the people

often do not have the electricity to keep milk cold.

What kinds of materials could the United States make a sculpture from?

(Think about what products used the most)

What about YOU?

El Anatsui might be best known for creating these large tapestries from liquor bottle caps.

Does it remind you of anything you’ve seen before?

“Kente Cloth”One of the most famous fabrics from the Ghana

region in Africa.

According to Ashanti tradition,•Black represents Africa•Red represents the blood of forefathers•Yellow represents gold•Green represents the forest

First worn by kings and chiefs.

What similarities do you see?

“Sacred Moon” Materials:Aluminum and copper wire

Meaning: Made to resemble the shimmering sky as the sun sets, El talks about the importance of storytelling in different cultures. Commonly, the perfect time for story telling is when the sun is

setting, after the day’s work is done.

Why do you think story telling is

important?

What kind of stories is

El Anatsui telling

through his art work?

What story will you tell?

Last semester’s

“Story Telling”

tapestry.

7th Gradecollaboration

Materials: Aluminum cans,

cereal boxes, plastic bottles, copper wire.