El Anatsui: Studio Process | Art21 "Extended Play"

Art21

20 Jul 201204:24

Summary

TLDREl Anatsui discusses his studio in Nsukka, Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of silence and reflection for creativity. He describes the process of creating art with bottle caps, starting with making 'blocks' and then experimenting with their arrangement to discover new patterns and textures. Anatsui highlights the necessity of physical interaction with materials to imbue the work with soul and the value of maintaining a large image bank for inspiration, capturing the essence of his artistic journey.

Takeaways

📍 The studio is situated in Nsukka, a university town in southeastern Nigeria, a short walk from the campus.
🤫 El Anatsui emphasizes the importance of silence in the studio for reflection and thinking.
👥 The artist values the physical interaction with materials, believing it is essential for the soul of the artwork.
🔨 The creation process involves making 'blocks' from around two hundred bottle caps each.
🎨 Anatsui and his team play with these blocks, experimenting with different arrangements to find new ideas.
📸 The artist takes photographs of various arrangements to build a bank of images for inspiration.
💻 The use of computer technology is integral to the process, storing and reviewing images for future reference.
🔄 The creative process can involve days of rearranging and experimenting with different configurations.
🔍 Anatsui relies on a large image bank to trigger new ideas, highlighting the importance of visual resources.
🗣️ The studio atmosphere changes when El Anatsui enters, indicating his leadership and the respect he commands.
🌟 The script conveys the sacredness of the studio space and the artist's dedication to the creative process.

Q & A

Where is El Anatsui's studio located?
-El Anatsui's studio is located in the university town of Nsukka, in southeastern Nigeria, about 10 to 20 minutes walking north of the university campus.
What is the atmosphere like when El Anatsui unexpectedly enters the studio?
-When El Anatsui enters the studio unexpectedly, there is a lot of loud banter, but it becomes quiet as he prefers absolute silence for reflection and thinking.
Why does El Anatsui insist on maintaining silence in the studio?
-El Anatsui insists on maintaining silence in the studio because he believes it is a sacred place for reflection and thinking, which is essential for the creative process.
What is the significance of physical contact with the material in El Anatsui's artistic process?
-Physical contact with the material is significant in El Anatsui's artistic process because it helps to ensure that the work has a soul, maintaining the artist's connection to the work.
What are the 'blocks' in El Anatsui's studio?
-The 'blocks' in El Anatsui's studio are units consisting of about two hundred bottle caps each, which serve as the basic components of his artwork.
How does El Anatsui approach the creation of new patterns or textures in his work?
-El Anatsui personally shows his team how to create new patterns or textures, emphasizing the importance of the artist's touch to infuse the work with life.
What is the process of assembling the blocks into a larger artwork?
-The process involves laying out the blocks scattered in the studio, picking what is needed for each portion of the work, and then playing around with the arrangement to see what suggestions they can offer.
How does El Anatsui document and review his work during the creative process?
-El Anatsui documents his work by taking photographs and putting them on the computer, creating a large bank of images that he can refer to for inspiration and to trigger new ideas.
What role do the images on El Anatsui's computer play in his creative process?
-The images on El Anatsui's computer serve as a visual reference and a source of inspiration, helping to trigger new ideas and provide a record of past work and effects.
How does El Anatsui describe the process of developing new ideas in his artwork?
-El Anatsui describes the process of developing new ideas as playing around with the materials, shifting them around, and sometimes spending days rearranging them to discover something interesting or effective.
Why does El Anatsui emphasize the importance of a large bank of images?
-El Anatsui emphasizes the importance of a large bank of images because they can trigger new ideas at unusual times, providing a continuous source of inspiration for his artwork.