Meyina marks the first solo museum exhibition of El Anatsui – one of the most influential contemporary artists working today – in South Africa. Over the past four decades, Anatsui has created a body of work that has expanded the language of contemporary sculpture in Africa and internationally. Composed of thousands of crumpled pieces of metal bound together with copper wire, the exhibition will showcase the artist’s recent large-scale sculptural installations, which read like intricate tapestries. The works engage with and comment on African history, post-colonial conditions, as well as daily realities and experiences on the continent. Archival objects, exhibition plans, letters and other documents will augment the works, offering a rare glimpse into the artist’s creative process. This exhibition is presented by Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with the Goodman Gallery and the Friends of the South African National Gallery, curated by Bisi Silva.
