El Anatsui

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How can we explore the role of memory in our lives through art? Chambers of Memory 1977 Ceramic, manganese 16 x 10 in. Collection of the artist With a speckled, brittle surface on a cylindrical base and a large, bulbous upper half, this work evokes an abstracted form of a human head. The front is defined by full, pursed lips and a narrowly slit nose and eyes, which may evoke a more literal history—the early art traditions of Africa. This sculpture can be seen as fashioned to resemble the ancient terra-cotta heads found around the village of Nok near the Jos Plateau region of Nigeria. Anatsui might ask viewers to reflect on their own, individual contributions to the history of humanity. The back of the skull is incomplete with chambers delineated by rough, jagged edges. The interior divisions in Chambers of Memory could allude to 14 EL ANATSUI EDUCATOR’S GUIDE
the abstract sites of memory and history archived in one’s mind. The holes and cracks in the skull of this piece, along with its title, Chambers of Memory, suggest that the artist is toying with ideas of the fragility and elusiveness of memories. How accurately can our minds sustain memories? Can we lose memories permanently? Is memory interpretive or factual? Earthenware is a principle material used in everyday life in many West African cultures from centuries ago to today. It is used for common as well as ceremonial activities. Anatsui has lived in Nigeria since the mid-1970s, and the cosmology of the Igbo, an ethnic group in Nigeria, has had an influence on his work and his aesthetic. For the Igbo, the earth is not only the source of all life and creation (many other genealogies trace the first humans to anthills), the earth is also the site and domain of Ala, the earth goddess— the divinity of creativity, communal balance, and moral righteousness. El Anatsui’s pots are formed by the artist’s hands, and consequently their form reveals the close relationship between the objects, their maker, and the earth. Looking and Interpreting • What forms and shapes do you see in this work of art? • How many chambers do you see? What objects do you see in them? Connecting and Doing • The Nok area in Nigeria is one of the earliest African centers of ironworking and terracotta figure production. Research more about the Nok terracotta sculptures. How are these sculptures made? Do you see any similarities in how these faces are depicted and in Chambers of Memory? • What do you think the role of memory is in your life? Do you have any favorite memories? What are they? How might you keep yourself from forgetting these memories? • What ways do we remember important events or memories in our life? Create a work of art where you preserve your memories. This could take the form of an accordion book, timeline, quilt, or collage that depicts multiple events. EXPLORING CULTURES, STORIES, AND MEMORY 15
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 14 and 15: When I last wrote to you . . . II 1
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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
Page 52: NEW YORK www.africanart.org

El Anatsui

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