Quote by El Anatsui: “Collecting is a way of dialoguing with the environment.”

This quote views the act of gathering materials not just as acquisition, but as a form of communication with one's surroundings. It suggests that interacting with the environment, particularly through collecting discarded items, allows an artist to understand its rhythms and stories, fostering a deep, reciprocal relationship between creator and context.

Anatsui's artistic process relies heavily on collecting and repurposing discarded materials, particularly liquor bottle caps from local distilleries in Ghana. This statement highlights his engagement with consumerism and waste, framing his artistic method as a direct, reflective interaction with his environment and its global connections.

Ghanaian sculptor and installation artist considered one of the most important visual artists of the contemporary era. Based in Nigeria for most of his career, he is famous for his large-scale tapestry-like works constructed from found metal and bottle caps. His work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale and in major museums worldwide.