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Yinka Shonibare CBE RA — Two works: (i) 19th Century Kid (Benjamin Disraeli); (ii) 19th Century Kid (William Gladstone)
Yinka Shonibare CBE RA

Two works: (i) 19th Century Kid (Benjamin Disraeli); (ii) 19th Century Kid (William Gladstone)

Two mannequin figures dressed in elaborate Victorian-era garments crafted from Shonibare's signature Dutch wax-printed fabric evoke the political rivalry between British Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone. The vibrant, batik-inspired textiles — commonly associated with African identity yet historically manufactured for Indonesian and West African markets — are layered with rich materials including amethyst and metal chain, destabilizing conventional narratives of British imperial power and identity. Together, the works interrogate the entangled histories of colonialism, politics, and cultural ownership that defined nineteenth-century Britain.

Medium
wood, fabric collage, amethyst, metal chain, metal supports

🔨 Auction Lot

Under the Influence

September 19, 2013

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About this work

Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Two works: (i) 19th Century Kid (Benjamin Disraeli); (ii) 19th Century Kid (William Gladstone)

Two mannequin figures dressed in elaborate Victorian-era garments crafted from Shonibare's signature Dutch wax-printed fabric evoke the political rivalry between British Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone. The vibrant, batik-inspired textiles — commonly associated with African identity yet historically manufactured for Indonesian and West African markets — are layered with rich materials including amethyst and metal chain, destabilizing conventional narratives of British imperial power and identity. Together, the works interrogate the entangled histories of colonialism, politics, and cultural ownership that defined nineteenth-century Britain.

Medium
wood, fabric collage, amethyst, metal chain, metal supports
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Nigerian, Bold, Mixed Media, Historical Reference, Collage, Sculptural, Portrait, Colorful, Figurative, Contemporary

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