El Anatsui is a sculptor who lives and works in Nigeria. He makes large sculptures out of small, element pieces, transforming the world around him into new forms.
We have selected 3 videos below to share with pupils. They are most suitable for year 6 in KS 2 and KS 3 and 4.
Video 1 – Studio Process
The first video shows El Anatui’s studio. He has a team of workers helping him construct his pieces, and the element of “playful exploration” is key.
Questions you may like to explore:
How far does El Anatui control what is being made? How does he leave space for chance discovery?
Video 2: “The Energy of the Community”
In this video, El talks about how it is important to him that other people are involved in the creation of his pieces, and that they are rooted in a sense of place and culture. “The energy of the community becomes a part of what you are doing.”
Video 3
In this video, Nana brings us up close to one of El’s pieces, showing us the elements of its construction in detail.
See This Resource Used in a Pathway…
Transforming Materials into Sculpture
This pathway shares how teachers might take inspiration from El Anatsui and encourage pupils to think how they might disassemble objects around them to transform them into sculptural pieces. Read More.
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Transforming Cardboard with Andrea Butler
Artist Andrea Butler shows how to explore simple design and construction using cardboard and jewellery. Read More
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The Sketchbook Journey
Explore the AccessArt Sketchbook Journey to grow your understanding about what sketchbooks are and how they might be used.
The AccessArt Network
Join our network on facebook and continue the conversation, share and support.
What We Like About This Resource….
“This activity is a great example of how we can use paper as the focus of creativity. Often we use paper purely for drawing or painting on, but here, it is central to the activity itself. While these particular folded sculptures have their roots in Turkish culture, you could still deliver the activity if looking at things like Origami too, thus linking it across different cultures” – Rachel, AccessArt
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Puzzle Purses Part 1
Puzzle Purses Part 2
Paperback Figures
What We Like About This Resource….
“It’s really interesting to hear how the interest Liz has in the quality of light comes from a personal place and is something she has responded to since childhood. Seeing how her work has developed over the years is therefore a really positive re enforcement that individual creative journeys, where nurtured, are so central to a rich arts education. We also love hearing Liz is always on the ‘quest for knowledge’ – meaning she is open to her ideas constantly evolving and the process of gathering new information and inspiration never stops!” – Rachel, AccessArt
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Pathway: Brave Colour
using sketchbooks to make visual notes
Show me what you see
Lightbulb Art
Mini World Light Boxes
Visual Arts Planning: LIght and Dark
What We Like About This Resource….
“This project provides a real opportunity for children to engage with a range of different processes to produce truly individual final results. Jan Miller is an experienced teacher and connects her projects well with learning outcomes. In this case, children are encouraged to have a loose approach and to make their own creative decisions – which is such a valuable part of any child (or adults!) creative education”. – Rachel, AccessArt
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Painted Houses
One Line Street
Responding to Place
What We Like About This Resource….
“This project links poignant subject matter with meaningful art processes and local history. What we learn about the re purposing of materials, (in this case spent ammunition) re affirms how we can use what is around us as a starting point to making and creating. You could extend or adapt this project by looking at broken pottery, re purposing that into new sculptures that link with Roman or other local historical cultures” – Rachel, AccessArt
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What We Like About This Resource….
“We really enjoyed reading about the process of creating art work according to a design brief and how the experience of this differs to when an artist begins with their own idea or concept. That’s not to say an artist can’t approach a brief with their own individual style and ideas, but what this post shows us is that there can be a balance between the two. This would be a great resource to show older KS pupils who may be beginning to consider their options beyond Primary School”. – Rachel, AccessArt
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Pathway: 2D Drawing to 3D Making
Talking Points: Packaging Design
What is Typography
Which Artist: Rachel Parker
Repeating Patterns
Block Printing Repeat Patterns
What We Like About This Resource….
“It’s interesting to hear Theresa describe Printmaking as a social activity, with the shared use of materials and equipment so central to the practice. This could be a positive way of working for lots of children in school, where instead of just working on individual art work, they can collaborate and embrace the creative sharing experience!” – Tobi, AccessArt.
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See the Resource Used in Schools…
What We Like About This Resource….
“The sentiment behind this resource idea is lovely and it provides an opportunity to really develop some fine motor skills as well as independence of approach. Taking ownership of the medal design means the sense of achievement is heightened beyond the children just being given one. You can really imagine the positive energy that would surround this activity within a classroom, with each child working on a shared project but embarking on their own creative journey.” – Rachel, AccessArt
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Pathway: Playful Making
Talking Points: Introduction to sculpture
Clay Art Medals
Talking Points: Nnena Kalu
Talking Points: Linda BEll
What We Like About This Resource….
“It’s great to see music being explored in this way, and combining it with making creates a really interesting immersive project. This activity would work well as part of an extended project looking at musical instruments around the world and some of the natural materials they are made from.” – Rachel, AccessArt
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Pathway: Music and art
talking points: wassily Kandinsky
drawing source material: orchestras
A Cheerful Orchestra
Talking Points: Linda BEll
Talking Points: Nnena Kalu
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“You can get a real sense of the environment in this post and how this could provide so much inspiration for creative projects. We are aware there the challenges to exploring the outdoors when many schools are in towns and cities. A way around this could be to have a regular collection of natural objects within the classroom and using them as a stimulus to respond creatively in sketchbooks or in extended projects” – Andrea, AccessArt
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What We Like About This Resource….
“It’s always so inspiring to hear how different artists work and we particularly like the detailed references Jake makes to his process – marking out the composition using neutral tones; adding and taking away compositional elements and gradually building in more colour and detail. Delivering a still life session in a classroom could begin with this process and encourage the practice of looking at positive and negative space. Some suggested resources below also touch on this”. – Rachel, AccessArt
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What We Like About This Resource….
“It’s really interesting to hear how Su’s career path evolved organically, and how experimenting with different disciplines such as ceramics and sculpture whilst studying Textiles at the RCA began her journey towards paper craft and books. We really like how the small book sculptures inspired the larger scale set designs for The Snow Queen. They transfer so effectively to the stage and you can imagine how engaging it would be for a young audience to recognise letters and words on lampposts and other scenic elements”. – Rachel, AccessArt
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Pathway: Exploring Form Through Drawing
Watercolour Washes Inspired by the Tapestries of Henry Moore
What We Like About This Resource
“It’s really interesting to see the combination of hand and digital work in Rachel’s work, and particularly how her hand stitched embroidery is scanned before being used to create patterned products. We love that lots of Rachel’s work begins in sketchbooks and how this really underpins her creative process. For children in school, learning to utilise a sketchbook and discover their potential though drawing and mapping ideas is invaluable. We have a whole Sketchbook Journey section on the AccessArt website (linked below) which explores this in more detail”. – Rachel, AccessArt.
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Pathway: Exploring pattern
using sketchbooks to make visual notes
Show me what you see
Inspired by Rachel Parker
Sewn Treasure Box
Felt and Embroidery Sets
