FAKE DEATH PICTURE (THE SUICIDE LEONARDO ALENZA) 2011

Yinka Shonibare made *Fake Death Picture (The Suicide Leonardo Alenza)* at an unknown date, using, it seems, photography, textiles, and sculpture. I can only imagine how much planning and construction went into making it. I love the way Shonibare uses Dutch wax fabrics to make costumes that reference historical periods. Here, the bright colours and patterns of the fabrics contrast sharply with the dark, moody background, as if plucked from the 18th century. I think he's having a conversation with history, and with painting itself. The theatrical scene has a painterly quality that reminds me of Goya’s dark paintings, or maybe even a bit of Courbet, but with an added layer of irony and cultural commentary. The dramatic gesture and composition pulls you in, but also asks you to question what you’re seeing. This isn’t just a historical reenactment; it’s a staging of identity, culture, and history, all rolled into one. Artists are always talking to each other across time.