REFUGEE ASTRONAUT II 2016

Editor: Here we have Yinka Shonibare's "Refugee Astronaut II" from 2016, a mixed-media sculpture with found objects. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the idea of space exploration and the very real burden this figure seems to be carrying. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's a powerful piece that prompts us to consider several critical intersections. Shonibare, as a postcolonial artist, often uses his work to explore themes of identity, globalization, and the legacies of colonialism. Notice the use of Dutch wax fabric? Editor: Yes, the vibrant, patterned fabric covering the astronaut's suit. Curator: Exactly. This fabric, though often associated with Africa, has Indonesian origins and was mass-produced by the Dutch. Shonibare uses it to challenge notions of cultural authenticity and explore hybridity. The "refugee" designation, paired with the astronaut imagery, raises questions about migration, displacement, and the universal human desire for progress, even escape. Who gets to explore, who is forced to flee, and what do they carry with them? What kind of tensions do you notice between these issues in this piece? Editor: That makes me think about how the objects in the bag seem very personal, everyday items rather than survival gear for space. It creates a sense of humanity and vulnerability. Curator: Precisely. He's cleverly subverting the heroic narrative often associated with astronauts, recasting them as individuals burdened by their histories and possessions. This speaks to the refugee experience of carrying what is most valuable, often materially insignificant to others but intensely meaningful to the individual. Editor: I never considered all of those implications just from a first glance. Curator: Shonibare layers meaning through materials and imagery. By placing a figure representing perhaps the ultimate symbol of progress—the astronaut—in the context of forced migration, he compels us to examine the complexities of globalization, inequality, and the human condition. Editor: I see it now. This work definitely broadens the idea of exploration beyond just physical space. Curator: Exactly. It is about a more theoretical one!