El Anatsui: BEHIND THE RED MOON, a Hyundai Commision for Tate Modern

art, installation

Hyundai Commission, sculptural installation made of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments, Behind the Red Moon, El Anatsui, Turbine Hall Tate Modern

El Anatsui, the celebrated artist, has bestowed upon Tate Modern's Turbine Hall a monumental masterpiece - Behind the Red Moon. This sculptural wonder is an intricate tapestry of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments. Meticulously crumpled, crushed, and skillfully stitched into a breathtaking array of compositions, these metal panels coalesce to form expansive abstract realms of color, shape, and line. Beyond its visual splendor, this remarkable commission delves into Anatsui's profound exploration of historical encounters and the intercontinental movement of goods and people, particularly during the transatlantic slave trade.

Hailing from Nigeria, the liquor bottle tops utilized in this monumental creation are emblematic of a contemporary industry deeply rooted in the colonial trade routes of yesteryears. Behind the Red Moon unfolds as an artistic narrative in three acts, inviting visitors to partake in a choreographed journey of movement and interaction amidst these suspended masterpieces, fostering a dynamic interplay between human bodies and the sculptures.

"Each material has its properties, physical and even spiritual."

~El Anatsui

When viewed from a distance, a mesmerizing landscape of symbols unfolds before the spectator's eyes, evoking the moon, the sail, the wave, the earth, and the wall. Upon closer inspection, the logos adorning the bottle tops emerge as poignant reminders of the material's social significance within the global landscape, intricately intertwined with the legacy of colonial commerce.

This masterful fusion of Africa and Europe, past and present, takes on sculptural form, appearing to float in mid-air and embodying Anatsui's visionary concept of the 'non-fixed form,' a testament to his pioneering approach to sculpture. Behind the Red Moon serves as a profound exploration of elemental forces interwoven with the intricate tapestry of human history, one marked by themes of power, oppression, dispersion, and survival.

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