'Between Heaven and Earth' 2006
El Anatsui
Aluminum, Copper Wire
This textile piece is intriguing because of its organic three-dimensionality and especially the materials chosen. He uses found objects to create all of his works stating that " Art grows out of each particular situation, and I believe that artists are better off working with whatever their environment throws up." This intricate 'metal cloth' is composed of brightly colored pieces of discarded aluminum,primarily from bottle tops local Nigerian distilleries. El Anatsui's personal website is undergoing renovation but the National Museum of African Art has further information about the artist and his works, including photos and audio clips.
Detail of Kente Prestige Cloth
Ghana 19th century
Cotton and Silk
Two prints from Atta Kwami
Top: 'Vane' 2006
Relief Print on Paper
Bottom: 'Juapong' 2006
Relief print on paper
Howard Scott Gallery has an impressive collection of Kwami's paintings and prints.
Detail of Adire Cloth: Olokun
Nigeria early 20th century
Cotton and Indigo Dye
The Essential Art of African Textiles: Design Without End is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until April 5th, 2009. Although the Met does own a few of these pieces including the El Anatsui piece and all of the Atta Kwami pieces, visitors are not allowed to take photographs even without a flash. This was extremely dissapointing while visiting because their online images only highlight a few of the pieces and are not large enough to fully appreciate the great detail in the works.
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