CHEEKY LITTLE ASTRONOMER III 2018

Yinka Shonibare made Cheeky Little Astronomer III, and what gets me first is the fabric. Those wild, colorful Dutch wax prints are like a conversation starter, pulling you in with their vibrancy and then making you think. The astronomer is perched on the chair, head replaced by a globe, gazing through a telescope. The fabric is everywhere, a riot of pattern. Shonibare uses it to talk about colonialism, trade, and cultural identity. It is like he’s asking, who gets to look up at the stars, and what does it mean to see the universe through a particular cultural lens? This piece reminds me of David Hammons, who also uses found objects and a playful approach to tackle serious issues. Both artists make you laugh a little, think a lot, and question everything. Art is never just one thing, is it? It is always asking more questions.