Yinka Shonibare

Sun, Sea and Sand

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About this artwork

This piece consists of a thousand 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.

Updated before 2020

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Yinka Shonibare

Yinka Shonibare