El Anatsui

This work depicts a new visual language drawn from symbols and
literature.
In Leopard’s Paw-prints and Other Stories, El Anatsui carves a number of
textures and patterns on the slats of wood assembled together. While the
symbols and patterns might not be discernible, viewers might liken them
to systems of communication based on adinkra symbols and kente cloth.
The act of naming a sculpture is an important part of Anatsui’s process.
Although he may think of a title at any point during the production of a
work, usually no final decision is made until he has spent time with a finished
piece and the idea for it begins to emerge. His titles often relate to language,
mythology, literature, or poetry, as well as major events in African history.
This naming practice recalls the way in which weavers, brass casters, and
carvers in Ghana name designs and compositions to reflect events, stories, or
proverbs. Leopard’s Paw-prints and Other Stories may relate to how leopards
are associated with kingship in West African folklore.
Looking and Interpreting
• Imagine taking a rubbing of this surface. What textures would you
notice?
Connecting and Doing
• Research kingship in West African cultures. For example, in Igbo culture,
one of the ethnic groups in Nigeria, a head, paw, or tooth of a lion or
leopard is a symbol or power. Other Igbo associations with royalty
include turtle shells, python skin, eagle feathers, crocodile skin, ostrich
eggs and feathers, and elephant tusks. These symbols are displayed on
fabrics or any piece of clothing and in wood such as mahogany, iroko,
obeche, ebony, all from trees that are usually huge and strong-textured.
Why do you think the leopard and its attributes might symbolize
kingship? Why do you think leaders associate themselves with symbols
of power? What symbols of power do you see today’s world leaders
display?
• What stories do you know that incorporate animals? Can you imagine
a story about a leopard based on what you see in El Anatsui’s piece? Act
out your story.
EXPLORING CULTURES, STORIES, AND MEMORY 21