BALLERINA WITH VIOLIN (GISELE) 2013

This is Yinka Shonibare's "Ballerina with Violin (Gisele)," and it's a sculpture that really makes you think about history and identity. Look at the fabric of the tutu – it's Dutch wax print, which has a fascinating history of its own, originally made in Europe, then traded in West Africa. Shonibare uses this material to question what we think of as "authentic" African identity. The headless figure and the globe where the head should be really strike me. It’s as if this ballerina is a symbol of global culture, but also a kind of erasure or anonymity. It's a powerful and slightly unsettling image. The bright pink tights and shoes covered with Dutch wax prints add to the visual punch, almost like a playful but pointed commentary. This sculpture reminds me a little of the work of David Hammons, who also uses everyday materials to make sly, subversive statements about race and culture. Shonibare's ballerina is a beautiful, complicated, and ultimately thought-provoking piece.