Black Seeds

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

An eight-panel sculptural installation titled "Black Seeds" by El Anatsui. The panels are painted and incised grained wood planks. The first six panels (2023.39.1a-f) are a deep black color, the seventh (2023.39.1g) a rich brown color, and the eighth (2023.39.1h) is a lighter, natural wood color. Across the first five planks is a large, incised circle starting in the lower left corner and heavily texturized within. There are seeds carved in the lower left corner and at the center of the circle. The last two panels are incised with a black-painted vine-like design that carries slightly into the 6th panel. On the bottom right corner of the 7th panel (2023.39.1g), is the carved signature: [EL 89].

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗