Earth Cloth
Earth Cloth
Kunstpalast - LVR-ZMB - Annette Hiller

Earth Cloth, 2003

ArtistEl Anatsui, Anyako *1944
Aluminium bottle caps, copper wire
(H x W)510 × 530 cm
Status
on display, room 006
About the workInterwoven world history: these works by the Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, made out of aluminium caps from bottles of alcohol, draw attention to the interconnections between Africa, Europe and America. Beginning in the sixteenth century, those in power on each continent engaged in the slave trade. African traders were often paid in alcohol. By reusing thousands of bottle caps, Anatsui links this historical retrospection with issues of modern society: the piece raises questions about consumption, trade and the environment.
AccessionAcquisition 2006
Provenance2006 Acquisition from October Gallery, London
Inventory number0.2006.13
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