El Anatsui

Born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, Anatsui trained at the College of Art, University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He later moved to Nigeria, teaching at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1975 until his retirement. His early work included wood sculptures and clay pieces, often drawing on Ghanaian adinkra symbols and Igbo uli designs. This period established his interest in local traditions and materials.

The bottle cap works involve an extensive, collaborative process. Anatsui employs a team of assistants who flatten, cut, and stitch thousands of aluminium caps together with copper wire. The resulting cloths are flexible, allowing for varied installations; they can hang freely, be folded, or draped to create different forms each time they are shown. This fluidity reflects both the nature of textiles and the changing stories of the materials themselves.

His art engages with themes of consumption, waste, and the histories embedded within found objects. The colours and patterns in his metallic cloths often echo traditional African textiles and ceremonial garments. Anatsui's work has been exhibited globally, including at the Venice Biennale and the British Museum, bringing his unique vision to a broad international audience.