WIND SCULPTURE V 2014

Yinka Shonibare created this Wind Sculpture using painted fiberglass. The sculpture, frozen in an unseen gust, brings a joyful sense of improvisation and play. Shonibare is known for using vividly patterned Dutch wax fabric, a globally traded material originally inspired by Indonesian batik. These textiles are made in the Netherlands and West Africa, and have become closely associated with African identity, speaking to global trade routes and hybridity of cultures. Wind Sculpture, in its fabrication, relies on industrial processes of molding and painting. Fiberglass lends itself to complex curvilinear shapes and bright colors. It also allows the work to withstand the elements. The process of making the artwork is particularly meaningful. Shonibare employs skilled artisans to execute his vision. His engagement with global issues, post-colonialism and cultural identity, encourages us to consider art beyond its aesthetic qualities. The materials, making, and context, reveal the artwork’s full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.