Old Man's Cloth
El Anatsui. Southern Nigeria. 2003 C.E. Aluminum and copper wire
A statement piece to remember his regions history and culture through using elements related to the most influential and culture-shaping events. This piece specifically is meant to serve as a reminder of the uneasy history of trade between Europe and Africa.
FORM:
aluminum and copper wire; reclaimed pieces of metal often from liquor bottles; not flat, intended to be sculptural and come out into our space; sensuous surface; light plays over bulges
FUNCTION:
using heritage to make sense of the complicated idea of consumerism and capitalism
CONTENT:
reclaimed liquor bottles - importance of alcohol and libation in traditional African culture (they would pour some onto the ground to honor the ancestors before eating), additionally the pieces had a life before - connects to the Ashanti belief system of sunsum (an aura that is transferred into objects) - energy/vitality in the piece because of its history; at first glance appears to be a textile - textile important in Ghana (Kente cloth - predominant color gold, associated with royalty and Ashanti control of the gold trade) - gold here used to give sense of royal reverence and authority
CONTEXT:
created not only by El Anatsui but by his workshop as well - traditional cloth was a more communal activity; El Anatsui was from Ghana but spent most of his time as an artist in Nigeria
