Tate Modern presents ‘Hyundai Commission: Behind the Red Moon’ by El Anatsui, on display until April 14, 2024.

El Anatsui, born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, is a Ghanaian sculptor, who has a studio practice in Nigeria and Tema, Ghana, where he creates beautiful and touching art using discarded materials like liquor bottle caps, cassava graters, and newspaper printing plates. His work explores reuse, transformation, and connection to Africa, while also addressing colonialism and the environment. Anatsui’s large-scale sculptures, made from folded aluminum bottle caps and copper wire, are luminous, weighty, and malleable, encouraging new forms to be created.

The exhibition features three pieces, each showcasing a different aspect of Anatsui’s art. The first piece, “The Red Moon,” is a red moon shape created from red liquor bottle caps, symbolizing the start of an Atlantic journey. The second piece, “The World,” features layers of human figures in flux, woven into a net-like fabric. The final piece, “The Wall,” is a towering black metal cloth expanse with bottle tops, resembling waves and rugged terrain. Behind it is a delicate silver structure with a colorful mosaic, reflecting the fusion of global cultures and mixed identities.

The Tate Modern strives to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the public for British art, ranging from the 16th century to contemporary times, as well as for international modern and contemporary art.

Source: Tate