Sun, Sea and Sand
About this artwork
This piece consists of one hundred fabric-covered bowls laid out on a blue floor. The batik fabric is commonly associated with Africa, but in fact the technique is Indonesian and the cloth was exported to Africa by the West. Ironically, the bright colours and exuberant design of the fabric became associated with African nationalism. The empty bowls signify famine and poverty, while the way in which they are displayed on the floor is reminiscent of African traders laying out goods on the ground to sell. The blue floor represents the sea while the title of the work refers to luxurious and indulgent foreign holidays.
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title:Sun, Sea and Sand
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accession number:GMA 4224
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materials:Dutch wax-printed cotton textile, 1000 polystyrene bowls, wallpaper paste, painted mdf floor covering.
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date created:1995
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measurements:Dimensions variable
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credit line:Purchased with funds from the donations box 1998
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copyright:© Yinka Shonibare MBE. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2018.
Yinka Shonibare
Yinka Shonibare
Shonibare was born in London to Nigerian parents. He studied at Goldsmith's College and still lives and works in London. He came to widespread prominence after his work featured in the 'Sensation' exhibition of Charles Saatchi's collection at the Royal Academy in London in 1999. Shonibare's work is infused with…