WIND SCULPTURE I (YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK) 2013

Yinka Shonibare’s “Wind Sculpture I,” currently at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, presents a frozen moment of vibrant movement in a pastoral setting. The Dutch wax print fabric, typically associated with West Africa, defies gravity, twisting upwards as if caught in an invisible gust. It’s like a snapshot of a flag in mid-wave, a solid form trying to express a fluid action. The sculpture's surface is smooth and polished, almost reflective, which makes the bright colours seem to vibrate. The yellow ochre and dark red/brown patterned fabric is stretched over the form, creating a tension between the material’s inherent flatness and the sculpture’s three-dimensionality. Looking at the upward spiral, it reminds me of Bernini’s “Ecstasy of Saint Teresa,” a moment of spiritual rapture captured in stone. Shonibare’s work, however, seems to explore themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and global exchange. This piece echoes the work of El Anatsui, who also uses fabric-like materials to create sculptural forms, blurring the line between sculpture and textile. It’s a great example of how art can be a conversation across time and cultures, leaving us with more questions than answers.