On 30 September 2024, the After the Red Moon exhibition by El Anatsui—one of Africa’s most revered contemporary artists—will begin its global tour at the Museum of Art Pudong (MAP), Shanghai. This monumental installation, originally commissioned as the Hyundai Commission for Tate Modern in London, is one of MAP’s most significant collaborations with Tate, offering a unique opportunity for audiences in China to witness the Ghanaian artist’s groundbreaking work.
El Anatsui, known for his masterful transformation of ordinary materials into thought-provoking sculptures, was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2015 Venice Biennale. In After the Red Moon, Anatsui employs his signature technique of using thousands of metal liquor bottle tops, meticulously crumpled, crushed, and stitched into massive abstract fields of color and form. This sublime composition merges personal expression with powerful historical themes, particularly the complex histories of migration, trade, and the legacies of colonialism.
The installation invites visitors on a sensory journey. As they move through the hanging panels, they engage in an intimate choreography with the artwork, discovering new layers of meaning from afar and up close. From a distance, the panels reveal abstract symbols such as the moon, waves, and walls. Up close, however, the imprints and logos on the bottle tops highlight their historical significance as commodities in a global industry rooted in colonial trade routes, blurring the lines between past and present.
This exhibition also marks the largest installation ever staged at MAP, transforming both Hall X and the entrance lobby. The installation is divided into three acts: The Waves, The World, and The Wall. The first act, The Waves, has been redesigned specifically for MAP, drawing inspiration from its waterfront architecture on the Huangpu River. This site-specific iteration reflects the journey Anatsui’s materials have taken across continents, embodying the bustling port cultures and seafaring history. The second act, The World, features transparent sculptures that evoke human figures converging into the Earth’s circular form, while the final act, The Wall, presents a monumental black wall that symbolizes both destruction and renewal.
“Each material has its properties, physical and even spiritual,” Anatsui explains. Through After the Red Moon, he explores the intersections between elemental forces and human histories of survival, power, and movement, transforming everyday objects into poetic symbols of Africa’s dynamic relationship with the world.
Accompanying the exhibition is an immersive soundscape by Ghanaian-British sound artist Peter Adjaye, enriching the sensory experience for visitors. The soundscapes, accessible via a QR code on-site, deepen the narrative of Anatsui’s exploration of interconnected geographies and histories.
Credit:
El Anatsui: After the Red Moon was originally conceived and commissioned as the Hyundai Commission: El Anatsui: Behind the Red Moon for Tate Modern, London 2023-2024; where it was curated by Osei Bonsu, Curator, International Art and Dina Akhmadeeva, Assistant Curator, International Art. El Anatsui: After the Red Moon is part of a global tour organised by Tate Gallery and is managed by Katherine Finerty, Project Curator, and Hannah Cassens Marshall, Exhibitions Assistant, Tate International Partnerships.
About the Artist
Born in Anyako, Ghana, in 1944, El Anatsui is celebrated for his experimental approach to sculpture, utilizing diverse materials such as wood, ceramics, and found objects. His work with liquor bottle tops, which began in the late 1990s, continues to push boundaries, merging local traditions with global histories of abstraction. His installations, embodying the idea of ‘non-fixed form’, adapt to different spaces, challenging conventional notions of permanence in art. His work has long reflected themes of African decolonization, migration, and the human journey, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary art.
After the Red Moon marks a new chapter in Anatsui’s global impact, as it embarks on a tour across major institutions after its debut in Shanghai, further cementing his legacy as a visionary artist who bridges past, present, and future through his profound and deeply human creations.
