El Anatsui

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