Krystal Boelte
February 25 2015
Artist Report
Yinka Shonibare is an artist whose work has extraordinary resonance today as we
grapple with complex issues of cultural diversity in a fast changing world. (Kent, pg1)
Yinka Shonibare was born in London and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He studied Fine Art
at Shaw College of Art and Goldsmiths College in London. Shonibare received his MFA,
graduating as part of the ‘Young British Artists’ generation. The East End of London is
his current residence. (Shonibare Biography, p1)
Yinka creates ties between the historical past and contemporary culture.
(NMMM) Within the contemporary context of globalization, the process arising from
world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture, Shonibare has become known
for his investigation of colonialism and post-colonialism. Seeing his work explains this,
alongside those of race and class, through the media of painting, sculpture, photography
and film and performance. This process was done so easy using his wide range of media
skills. (Shonibare Biography, p2) This was seen is an aesthetic, visual, and poetic
investigation, although the intent is present. (NMMM)
Yinka often mixes Western art history with literature, questioning the world, what
is the collective contemporary identity today? Shonibare committedly examines the
construction of identity and misshaped relationship between Africa and Europe
and their respective economic and political histories. Shonibare considers
himself as ‘post-colonial’. Throughout his life he appeared in many wellknown museums and won quite a few awards for being an excellent
artist.(Shonibare Biography, p2)
You may see Yinka Shonibare’s name plaster places with an MBE at the
end. This was added to his professional name when he won the award “Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire”. (Shonibare Biography, p3) Rachel Kent’s
statement, “he draws on his own cultural experiences and rais es poignant
questions about the complex legacy of European colonialism, race, class, and
identity”, was very appalling and explained Yinka Shonibare very well. (Kent,
pg1) Shonibare has had his work in multiple famous museums all around the
world. To him, a museum is also a place of critique and thought, a cabinet de
curiosites, where we can still dream, ponder, and pass a moment’s detachment
from the rest of the world, perhaps the better to dive back into the fray with a
great capacity for life.
The presence of his installations reveals little -known aspects of the
Galea collection, highlights the talents of the Bosio brothers in sculpture and
drawing. Yinka also brings a new dimension to the scale models and costumes
of set-designs from the Monte-Carlo Opera. (NMMM) Yinka has had his talent
shown in the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution,
Washington DC. The Royal Academy of Arts awarded Mr. Shonibare as the
Royal Academician just a year ago. This is his latest work. (Shonibare
Biography, p3)
Bibliography
Cohan, James. “Yinka Shonibare.” James Cohan Gallery.
http://www.jamescohan.com/artists/yinka-shonibare-mbe. Date accessed
February 3, 2015.
Nouveau Musee National de Monaco. Looking up…. New York: Harry N
Abrams, Inc., 2010.
Rachel Kent. MCA Yinka Shonibare MBE. New York: Prestel Publishing, 2008.
Shonibare, Yinka. “biography.” Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA).
http://www.yinkashonibarembe.com/biography/. Date accessed February
3, 2015.
Yinka Shonibare MBE RA was born in London and moved to Lagos, Nigeria at
the age of three. He returned to London to study Fine Art first at Byam Shaw
College of Art (now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) and then
at Goldsmiths College, where he received hi s MFA, graduating as part of the
‘Young British Artists’ generation. He currently lives and works in the East
End of London.
Over the past decade, Shonibare has become well known for his exploration of
colonialism and post-colonialism within the contemporary context of
globalisation. Shonibare’s work explores these issues, alongside those of race
and class, through the media of painting, sculpture, photography and, more
recently, film and performance. Using this wide range of media, Shonibare
examines in particular the construction of identity and tangled
interrelationship between Africa and Europe and their respective economic
and political histories. Mixing Western art history and literature, he asks what
constitutes our collective contemporary identity today. Having described
himself as a ‘post-colonial’ hybrid, Shonibare questions the meaning of
cultural and national definitions.
Shonibare was a Turner prize nominee in 2004 and awarded the decoration of
Member of the “Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”. He has added
this title to his professional name. In 2013 he was elected Royal Academician
by the Royal Academy of Arts. He was notably commissioned by Okwui
Enwezor At Documenta 10 in 2002 to create his most recognised work
‘Gallantry and Criminal Conversation’ that launched him on an international
stage. He has exhibited at the Venice Biennial and internationally at leading
museums worldwide. In September 2008, his major mid-career survey
commenced at the MCA Sydney and toured to the Brooklyn Museum, New
York in June 2009 and the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian
Institution, Washington DC in October 2009 . In 2010, 'Nelson's Ship in a
Bottle' became his first public art commission on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar
Square.
-Creating ties between the historical past and contemporary culture.
-The presence of his installation in this marvelous site reveals little-known aspects of the
Galea collection, highlights the talents of the Bosio brothers in sculpture and drawing
and brings a new dimension to the scale models and costumes of set-designs from the
Monte-Carlo Opera.
-A museum is also a place of critique and thought, a cabinet de curiosites, where we can
still dream, ponder, and pass a moment’s detachment from the rest of the world, perhaps
the better to dive back into the fray with a greater capacity for life.
- What emerged is primarily an aesthetic, visual, and poetic investigation, although the
underlying intent is ever-present.
- Shonibare is an artist whose work has extraordinary resonance today as we grapple
with complex issues of cultural diversity in a fast changing world.
-British artist of Nigerian descent, he draws on his own cultural experiences and raises
seatching and poignant questions anout the complex legacy of European colonialism,
race, class and identity.
Krystal Boelte
Modern Art Project
February 4 2015
Bibliography
Cohan, James. “Yinka Shonibare.” James Cohan Gallery.
http://www.jamescohan.com/artists/yinka-shonibare-mbe. Date accessed
February 3, 2015.
Nouveau Musee National de Monaco. Looking up…. New York: Harry N
Abrams, Inc., 2010.
Rachel Kent. MCA Yinka Shonibare MBE. New York: Prestel Publishing, 2008.
Shonibare, Yinka. “biography.” Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA).
http://www.yinkashonibarembe.com/biography/. Date accessed February 3, 2015.