Art 21

    Works by El Anatsui give off a cloth like, noisy, and bouncy effect with the use of the bottle caps.  Thinking about the significance in the use of bottle caps to create his captivating works, I began to think about how they could be connected to issues with poverty and money issues in Africa as well as how the colors and designs used can reference his culture.  The bottle caps connected to each other have almost a quilt like effect while being shiny.  I feel that these aspects bring forward the theme of money and culture. 

              El Anatsui, In the World, But don't know the World? (2009), private collection. Photo: Jonathan Greet, courtesy October Gallery, London.

  

 Not only do the colors of the bottle caps flow together making the work feel connected, but how they fold along eachother creates a sense of rhythm.  Even from a distance, the reflective/shiny surfaces pop so that the viewer can almost feel the texture. 

El Anatsui, Strips of Earths Skin (2008), found aluminum and copper wire

            There is both horizontal and vertical movement in this artwork: metallic silver bending and rounding in areas contrasting what is lying over it.  The variety of colors and texture flowing downward appears to have many warmer orange and red tones with hints of blue and green.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/el-anatsui-first-african-artist-appointed-at-londons-royal-academy-9520

https://www.thebroad.org/art/el-anatsui/strips-earths-skin

https://art21.org/watch/extended-play/el-anatsui-studio-process-short/