El Anatsui

VOCABULARY
Abstract
Nonrepresentational, focused on formal relationships.
Adinkra
Visual symbols used in Ghana and West Africa that
represent concepts and ideas. May be used on fabric,
pottery, woodcarvings, and other locations.
Composition
The arrangement of elements in a work that form its
whole.
Consumerism
Social and economic order based on the creation of a
desire to purchase goods and services in ever-greater
amounts.
Monumental
Massive, imposing; being larger than life.
Sculptural
Three dimensional, consisting of sculpture-like qualities.
Textile
Flexible material consisting of a network of natural or
artificial fibers.
Transience
Impermanent; lasting only a short time.
Ewe
An ethnic group from the southeast corner of Ghana,
east of the Volta River, in an area now described as the
Volta Region, extending to southern Togo and western
Benin. They speak the Ewe language.
Found-object
An object used in artworks, which was originally
created for another purpose.
Globalization
The integration of regional economies, societies, and
cultures through a global network of political ideas.
Kente Cloth
Sacred strip-woven cloth worn by Ewe and Akan people
from Ghana on important occasions. Characterized by
bright, multicolored patterns, geometric shapes, and
bold designs.
VOCABULARY 47