MRS PINCKNEY AND THE EMANCIPATED BIRDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA 2017

Yinka Shonibare MBE's "MRS PINCKNEY AND THE EMANCIPATED BIRDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA" (2017) is a striking sculpture of a female figure adorned in vibrant, patterned fabric. The figure's head is replaced with a birdcage, while a bird perches atop it, symbolizing freedom. The woman balances on a globe, suggesting her precarious position within a global context. This work is a poignant commentary on colonialism and its impact on African culture, drawing on the history of the Pinckney family who were prominent figures in South Carolina during the colonial period.