Art Review Yinka Shonibare “End of Empire”
The Box Gallery had a range of artists displaying work but the teetering alliance of Yinka Shonibare's " End of Empire" piece is what peaked my interest when I came across it.
His piece was designed in 2016 and one of the key details I noticed first was that the heads on the models were small globes. Looking at different articles, I discovered that he designed the globes to have the countries involved in WW1 highlighted, quoting that they were " a metophor for diaologue, balance and conflict" meaning that the models were just his interperatation of the countries alliances.
The seesaw was demonstrating the metaphor of balance in conflict and how possibility in betrayal or forgiveness hanged in the air physically moving up and down between the two "Empires".
His piece was made up of two figures wearing suits embellished in African fabrics completely covered in patterns. Vibrant deep reds mixed with, warm orange tinged yellows, dark shaded greens, contrasting thick black outlined white patterns. They were positioned on either ends of a large seesaw each mimicking each other with one leg kicking out and an arm stretched out, almost reaching upwards in a half wave, half praising friendly-like gesture.
The colourful patterns I saw in this piece I also noticed are very key in all his artworks. The designs came from African culture, Shonibare quotes on his website “ Can you imagine Picasso without African Art?” this explains his views on culture influencing artists and their work, being a Nigerian Artist he is displaying art from his culture to share around the world. Reading deeper into his biography his approach involves investigating “contemporary cultural and national identity” his artworks explore different cultural methods of creation showing his approach.
Another artist I research that was similar to him was Lubaina Himid, as she looks at pattern too and it’s key in her work like Shonibare as she was brought up with French, Italian and African patterns, due to her mother being a textiles designer and being very critical of dresses people wore. This experience really impacts her work show lots of colourful designs in her work like Yinka Shonibare in his pieces.
The structure that made up the seesaw was constructed from a steel textured metal with the bolts lining the edges. It had a triangular shape as the main body balancing the bar holding the two models on either side, supported by a joint in the middle.
This could be seen as a form of juxtaposition in another sense displaying two business-like characters wearing suits showing formality and a more serious style clothing. In comparison to the seesaw as an object used for fun and entertainment.
I decided to draw the artwork because I wanted to capture the diagonal imbalance ever changed as the piece moved up and down. I found that the positions the figures were placed in gave them more humanoid features despite not having human heads.This added to the models connecting them together as a united pair showing the alliance between them as countries. Linking back to his personal website he looks at race,class and the relationships between the countries in Africa and Europe so that fact that the models are in those poses shows their respected union.
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