CAPITOLINE VENUS (LOUVRE) 2017

Yinka Shonibare's sculpture, Capitoline Venus, stands before us, draped in the vibrant hues of Dutch wax fabric, crowned with a globe where her head should be. I love the way Shonibare embraces artmaking as a process, layering meanings and materials to create something that's both visually striking and conceptually rich. The texture of the fabric is key here – that loud, busy pattern across the smooth form of the Venus is a total game changer. It's not just about color, it's about history, trade, and cultural exchange, all wrapped up in this one gesture. The globe, in place of her head, feels like a wry comment on globalization. Look at how the fabric clings to the curves of the body, yet the overall effect is far from classical. This isn't your grandmother’s Venus! Shonibare, like artists such as Jeff Koons, engages with art history. But instead of slick perfection, he throws in a twist, opening up a space for us to question what we think we know about beauty, culture, and power. Art is never a straight line, but a conversation, full of contradictions, detours, and delightful surprises.