El Anatsui’s work isn’t just about art; it’s a poetic exploration of the very materials he uses. He believes that every material has its unique qualities, both physical and spiritual.

Situated in the Tate Modern’s imposing Turbine Hall, ‘Behind the Red Moon’, is a monumental sculpture formed with thousands of mosaic metal bottle tops and fragments, that attests to just that.

Here Anatsui “‘explores elemental forces interwoven with human histories of power, oppression, dispersion and survival’.  This exploration was inspired by his personal interest in the encounters and migrations of goods and people during the transatlantic slave trade. The bottle tops, sourced from Nigeria, represent a modern industry rooted in colonial trade routes.

From a distance, you’ll be greeted by a montage of symbols—moon, sail, wave, earth, and wall. The sculpture takes up it’s own space, just as imposing as the hall in which it resides. As you get closer, the bottle tops’ logos come into focus, telling stories of their own as commodities in a global industry shaped by colonial trade.

A poignant, multilayered, and mesmerising display.

Image: Behind the Red Moon, Installation View, 2023 · El Anatsui: Hyundai Commission · Photo ©Tate (Joe Humphrys)