The 'Sad History' of Africa Embedded in Abandoned Objects

Barakat Contemporary Presents Solo Exhibition "Floating Light" by Ghanaian Artist El Anatsui

El Anatsui's 'New World Symphony' (2022). Made by tapping, cutting, and joining bottle caps. Photo by Barakat Contemporary

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The small aluminum pieces of bottle caps from empty and discarded liquor bottles have been flattened and connected to create metal tapestries by artist El Anatsui, whose new works are coming to Korea.

Barakat Contemporary in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, announced on the 1st that it will hold El Anatsui's solo exhibition "Floating Light" until January 29 next year.

Since the late 1990s, El Anatsui has gained worldwide fame by weaving thousands of discarded bottle caps and aluminum pieces together with copper wire to create metal tapestries, and then transforming these works.

The bottle caps, a primary material in his work, reflect Africa's colonial history. During the colonial era, African slaves were mobilized to cultivate sugarcane. The molasses from the cultivated sugarcane became the raw material for rum. The rum produced was shipped to the West African coast and exchanged again for slaves and goods. Focusing on this historical fact, the artist collects bottle caps imported under semi-coercive trade agreements and uses them in his work to metaphorically express the shock of Western culture deeply rooted in African culture.

El Anatsui.

Anatsui's works have been praised as attempts at a new sculptural language while also being recognized for recalling the trauma of late colonialism in Africa embedded in their message. He was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2015 Venice Biennale in recognition of this artistic merit.

Regarding his use of discarded materials, the artist previously said, "I believe that things touched and breathed upon by people retain that person's DNA or energy," adding, "By using such materials in my work, connections between people are created, and history and stories are conveyed."

Ultimately, the artist powerfully conveys through his monumental tapestries that even small objects easily overlooked contain artistic potential.

El Anatsui's works are held in collections such as the British Museum in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, and the Kunstpalast Museum in D?sseldorf, Germany. His works have been featured in various international exhibitions including the Venice Biennale and the Paris Triennale. The exhibition runs until January 29 next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.