The artist pursues the themes of memory and loss in his sculpture, especially the damage wrought by the colonial period and traumatic post-colonial aftermath.
He uses cloth as a metaphor for both the fragility and the dynamism and strength of tradition. El Anatsui worked on these two sculptures at the same time, developing their subtle differences together. They are the first works to use liquor bottle tops instead of wood. Man's cloth is illustrated.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Man's Cloth & Woman's Cloth, 2001
Date supported
2002
Medium and material
Recycled bottle tops
Dimensions
1) 297 x 374 cm & 2) 287 x 292 cm
Grant
23,000
Total cost
23,000
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