El Anatsui

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God’s Omnipotence 1974 Wood, paint, lacquer 21 ½ x 20 ½ in. Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 12 EL ANATSUI EDUCATOR’S GUIDE
An ordinary tray is carved with new meaning. Anatsui decorated this wooden tray with a central symbol surrounded by radiating decoration. These wood sculptures are among Anatsui’s earliest works and are based on Ghanaian market trays. The artist commissioned local wood carvers to make the kind of market trays conventionally used to display fruits and vegetables, then he branded and scorched the wood with shapes and patterns using a low-tech method of heated rods or knives. The symbol that Anatsui uses is akin to the adinkra symbol nyame ye ohene, meaning “God is King,” symbolizing the majesty and supremacy of God. Using a local form and processes, he blurs the traditional perception of fine art and craft. Looking and Interpreting • What do you notice about the tray? How do you think the designs are created? Connecting and Doing • Research adinkra symbols from West African cultures. Select a few symbols with meanings that you like or have significance for you. Carve your own symbol out of a potato or soap and use it to stamp different surfaces such as paper and fabric. • Can you imagine an everyday object in your own life for which you could invent a new purpose? Draw how you might use this object. EXPLORING CULTURES, STORIES, AND MEMORY 13
Page 1: El Anatsui When I Last Wrote to You
Page 4 and 5: El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to Yo
Page 6 and 7: ABOUT THIS GUIDE THIS EL ANATSUI ED
Page 8 and 9: ABOUT THE ARTIST EL ANATSUI WAS BOR
Page 10 and 11: of logs into a rectangular pile. Th
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Page 42 and 43: LESSON PLANS LESSON 1 Research Acti
Page 44 and 45: WORKSHEET Exploring El Anatsui’s
Page 46 and 47: LESSON 2: Creating a Found-object W
Page 48 and 49: DATE El ANATSUI’S LIFE WORLD EVEN
Page 50 and 51: ANNOTATED WEBOGRAPHY El Anatsui Ins
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El Anatsui

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