El Anatsui

Let us take time to focus on great artistic mind in our world today. El Anatsui, a Ghanaian sculptor comes to New York to unveil some of his latest creations. Born in Anyako (1944) El Anatsui was active for most of his career in Nigeria. He delivers a very unique form of tapestry-mosaic art, sometimes using hammered down bottle caps to develop a beautiful quilt like piece. This makes his art unique, and delivers a bigger message hidden within the piece. His work brings to attention the issues with consumerism, waste and the frivolousness of people’s lives in our world today. He uses recycled bottle caps to support the idea of re-using materials, while also making a beautiful piece of art. Artists like these show initiative in changing our world, through their art. The art offers people inspiration; with messages like reduce reuse recycle in the inspiraration, El Anatsui’s message continues to move from one creative mind to another. This is my favorite element about art; the element that causes a person to say Wow more than they did when they first saw the piece. I like to think of art as something more than a painting, but a message. A message conveying an issue in our world that also relates to the piece the artist created. El Anatsui and many other artists alike continue to convey their opinions on our world through their art. These opinions must be heard, and listened to, or else artists alike will hold their brushes next time an inspiring idea runs through their head.