Art and El Anatsui Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art and El Anatsui - Research Paper Example This is an artwork incorporating a collection of aluminum plates together with copper wires. Anatsui is determined to challenge the stereotype of metal being a solid, inflexible medium and to a certain extent portray it to be a soft, pliant and almost sumptuous material which is capable of attaining vast dimensions and being modified to precise spaces. The forms created by Anatsui are layered with implications that reach far beyond the physical characteristics of his choice of materials. As showed in this eight-foot-tall figure of an oversized wastepaper pack, Anatsui makes an outright proclamation about the climbing issue of waste change in third planet countries which have restricted reusing proficiencies. This artwork also interprets upon the frequent not reusable nature of human life in a rather subtle way. Comprising of trashed printing plates which were used for obituary pages in newspapers, the portrayed images with their death announcements remind people of the incessant scou rge of illness, corruption and maltreatment in a nation which has been struggling with the long-term aftermath, which is attributed to the effects of colonialism high illiteracy levels which has caused underdevelopment and corruption.This is an artwork incorporating a collection of aluminum plates together with copper wires. Anatsui is determined to challenge the stereotype of metal being a solid, inflexible medium and to a certain extent portray it to be a soft, pliant and almost sumptuous material which is capable of attaining vast dimensions... It is only after close up scrutiny that someone is able to know that the sculptures are made from discarded materials like in this wastepaper bag, which comprises of trashed printing plates. There are other artworks where he has used flattened tins, tops and liquor bottle wrappers (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute 17). Through his artwork, El Anatsui guides his audience to reflect the social and economic account of West Africa’s past, consumerism, and garbage, as woven into fine-looking sculptures. The lesson from this artwork is that students can craft their own drapery as a response to Anatsui's art, incorporating African kente to find out rhythm and pattern in art. Waste materials can be recycled for use which in this artwork of wastepaper bag, it included folded papers and labels. It is the use of craft sticks which are then glued to a burlap background which gives the piece its firmness and dimension, enabling it to hang as a sculptural â€Å"Gawu† (Sterli ng and Francine Clark Art Institute 21). Although Anatsui has also worked using a variety of other mediums such as the wastepaper bag which was made of paper, he is however best known for his shimmering metal sculptures which he makes from several thousand liquor bottle tops of West African origin. This is one of the most renowned art works of El Anatsui. This wonderful piece of art work gives an insider's view of Anatsui’s practice of art. It took ingenious steps coupled with thousands of hours of labor. This is what converted the recycled waste bottle tops into the big, magnificent wall hangings. This artwork is a marriage of painting and sculpture; it is an object which speaks of African history as well as for the ethereal. This art piece or art work is very descriptive, and gives the audience