PAST EXHIBITION

Yinka Shonibare, MBE: A Flying Machine for Every Man, Woman and Child and Other Astonishing Works

March 14, 2009—June 21, 2009

Born in Britain to Nigerian parents, Yinka Shonibare, MBE is recognized internationally for his provocative sculptural installations, photographs and films that contrast African and European imagery and convention.  Best known is the artist’s sculptural work, which presents headless mannequins clothed in Victorian era dress made from atypical fabrics: brightly colored, wax-printed cloths commonly identified as African batiks.  Essential to the work’s meaning is the use of textiles strongly associated with Africa yet originally produced in Europe and sold to Africans by Dutch traders in the 19th century.



This, the artist’s first solo exhibition in the western United States, features an idyllic family riding human-powered flying machines modeled after 19th century drawings, alluding to the continual freedom sought by emigrants and tourists alike.  Also included is a selection of works from prominent West Coast collections, as well as several recent works that speak to cultural myths and misinterpretations of colonialism.

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