El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa

February 2 - May 5, 2013

When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, a major retrospective of internationally renowned artist El Anatsui organized by the Museum for African Art, includes approximately sixty works drawn from public and private collections worldwide. The Ghanaian-born El Anatsui, who lives and works in Nigeria, is widely known for monumental wall sculptures made from discarded bottle tops, and is recognized as one of the most original and compelling artists of his generation. The exhibition spans four decades and encompasses work in wood, ceramic, and metal, as well as drawings, prints and paintings. In his most recent metal wall sculptures, Anatsui assembles thousands of west African liquor-bottle tops into moving patterns of stunning visual impact, transforming this simple material into large shimmering forms. When I Last Wrote to You about Africa presents the largest compilation of Anatsui's works ever assembled, including massive wall pieces and large-scale floor installations. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue published with the assistance of The Getty Foundation.

El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa is organized by the Museum for African Art, New York, and has been supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.



Images

El Anatsui, Sacred Moon, 2007 Aluminum and copper wire, 103 x 141 in. Photo courtesy: Jack Shainman Gallery 

El Anatsui, Oasis, 2008
Aluminum and copper wire, 106 x 90 in.
Photo courtesy: Jane Katcher / Peter Harholdt

El Anatsui, Zebra Crossing III, 2007
Aluminum and copper wire, 61 x 107 in.
Photo courtesy: Jack Shainman Gallery

El Anatsui, Old Cloth Series, 1993
Wood, paint, 31 1⁄2 x 60 1/4 in.
Photo courtesy: The October Gallery

El Anatsui, Untitled, 1980s
Acrylic on Masonite
Photo courtesy: Museum for African Art / Jerry L. Thompson

Timeline

Exhibition Timeline

SatFeb 2
Exhibition Opens
Tue
Feb 5
Africa Workshop: What is African Art?
4:00pm7:00pm
Exhibitions Related / Special Events
SunMay 5
Exhibition Closes
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