CAPITOLINE VENUS (LOUVRE) 2017

Yinka Shonibare's CAPITOLINE VENUS (LOUVRE) is a classical sculpture draped in Dutch wax print fabric. The figure stands with arms crossed, in that very Venus sort of way. But wait, instead of a head, there's a globe! I can imagine Shonibare wrestling with this form, figuring out how to merge the historical with the contemporary. What does it mean to cloak a symbol of Western art history in a fabric that's become so politically charged? It’s like he's asking us, "How do we grapple with the weight of history when our world is so globalized, so interconnected?" The wax print is so lively, its patterns bursting with energy. It makes me think about trade routes, cultural exchange, and the way fabrics can tell stories. And the globe... well, that just blows my mind. It's about power, knowledge, and the way we see ourselves in the world.