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Viewing Sarah Sze’s suite of new paintings at Victoria Miro

The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze Cascade, 2024 © Sarah Sze Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro
Above  Sarah Sze Cascade, 2024 © Sarah Sze Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro
The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
Above  Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
Above   Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze at Victoria Miro Venice
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze at Victoria Miro Venice
The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze Cascade, 2024 © Sarah Sze Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro
Above  Sarah Sze Cascade, 2024 © Sarah Sze Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro
The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
Above  Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
The Wick Culture - Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
Above   Sarah Sze, Sleepers Installation view, Victoria Miro Venice
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze, Victoria Miro Venice, 16 April–16 June 2024 All works © Sarah Sze. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Photography: Andrea Rossetti / Héctor Chico
The Wick Culture - Installation view, Sarah Sze at Victoria Miro Venice
Above  Installation view, Sarah Sze at Victoria Miro Venice

Sarah Sze

Victoria Miro Venice
16 April – 16 June 2024

American artist Sarah Sze’s new works are taking over Victoria Miro’s Venice gallery until the summer – a video installation and a suite of new paintings that contemplate ways of looking and constructing images. As well as presenting works at the gallery, Sze has also taken over a Venetian apartment opposite – a group of new paintings presented within a simulation of the space in which they were painted. It’s a heady presentation that challenges the idea of a single way of seeing. It may leave you just a little disoriented as you head back out to navigate the Biennale and its offerings. ‘The paintings, the video, the sculptures – all of the work” Sze says “is about being captured in a continual state of transition.” Venice, with its history of movement and as a site of cultural convergence, seems the perfect environment to explore this state.
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Dates
16 April 2024 — 16 June 2024

Viewing Sir John Akomfrah’s ambitious commission for the 60th Venice Biennale is finally unveiled

The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah and Tarini Malik, British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah and Tarini Malik, British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto I, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto I, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto IV, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto IV, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto VII, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto VII, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto V, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto V, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto-VIII, Listening All Night To The Rain British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto-VIII, Listening All Night To The Rain British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah and Tarini Malik, British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah and Tarini Malik, British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto I, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto I, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto IV, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto IV, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto VII, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto VII, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto V, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto V, Listening All Night To The Rain. British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - John Akomfrah, Canto-VIII, Listening All Night To The Rain British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
Above  John Akomfrah, Canto-VIII, Listening All Night To The Rain British Pavilion, 2024 Photo by Jack Hems
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
The Wick Culture - Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films
Above  Still from Listening All Night To The Rain by John Akomfrah, commissioned by the British Council. Courtesy of Lisson gallery and Smoking Dogs Films. Copyright Smoking Dogs Films

John Akomfrah, Listening All Night To The Rain

British Pavilion, La Biennale d’Arte di Venezia, Venice,
20 April – 24 November, 2024

Sir John Akomfrah RA represents Great Britain at this year’s 60th International Art Exhibition. Curated by this week’s Monday Muse, Tarini Malik (who tells us more about the pavilion in our interview) Listening All Night To The Rain is an eclectic exploration, conceived as a single installation with a staggering eight interconnected multi-screen sound and time-based works. Akomfrah expands on themes he has explored for decades – memory, migration, injustice and climate change – but here also communes with the ‘ghosts’ of the pavilion. Akomfrah invites audiences to be immersed, and to listen – and perhaps, come out feeling a little different about the world.


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Dates
20 April 2024 — 24 November 2024

Viewing Yinka Shonibare’s dazzling “Suspended States” take over Serpentine South

The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE African Bird Magic (Sokoke Scops-Owl), 2023 Patchwork, applique, quilting, hand dyed silk, linen and cotton and Dutch wax printed cotton 205 x 164 x 5 cm Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE African Bird Magic (Sokoke Scops-Owl), 2023 Patchwork, applique, quilting, hand dyed silk, linen and cotton and Dutch wax printed cotton 205 x 164 x 5 cm Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Wind Sculpture in Bronze IV, 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and James Cohan Gallery. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
Above  Wind Sculpture in Bronze IV, 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and James Cohan Gallery. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
The Wick Culture - Sanctuary City (Chiswick Women’s Refuge), 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co
Above  Sanctuary City (Chiswick Women’s Refuge), 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Frere), 2022. Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 143 x 49 x 60 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Frere), 2022. Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 143 x 49 x 60 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - The War Library, 2024 [detail]. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
Above  The War Library, 2024 [detail]. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Roberts), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern goldleaf and wooden plinth, 180 x 70 x 149.5 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Roberts), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern goldleaf and wooden plinth, 180 x 70 x 149.5 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Viewing Yinka Shonibare’s dazzling “Suspended States” take over Serpentine South
Above  
The Wick Culture - Portrait of Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Photography by Tom Jamieson. Image © Yinka Shonibare CBE and Tom Jamieson. DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Queen Victoria), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 139 x 75 x 57 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above   Portrait of Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Photography by Tom Jamieson. Image © Yinka Shonibare CBE and Tom Jamieson. DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Queen Victoria), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 139 x 75 x 57 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE African Bird Magic (Sokoke Scops-Owl), 2023 Patchwork, applique, quilting, hand dyed silk, linen and cotton and Dutch wax printed cotton 205 x 164 x 5 cm Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE African Bird Magic (Sokoke Scops-Owl), 2023 Patchwork, applique, quilting, hand dyed silk, linen and cotton and Dutch wax printed cotton 205 x 164 x 5 cm Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Wind Sculpture in Bronze IV, 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and James Cohan Gallery. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
Above  Wind Sculpture in Bronze IV, 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and James Cohan Gallery. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
The Wick Culture - Sanctuary City (Chiswick Women’s Refuge), 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co
Above  Sanctuary City (Chiswick Women’s Refuge), 2024. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Frere), 2022. Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 143 x 49 x 60 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Frere), 2022. Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 143 x 49 x 60 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - The War Library, 2024 [detail]. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
Above  The War Library, 2024 [detail]. Courtesy Yinka Shonibare CBE and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York; James Cohan Gallery, New York; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photo: © Stephen White & Co.
The Wick Culture - Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Roberts), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern goldleaf and wooden plinth, 180 x 70 x 149.5 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above  Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Roberts), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern goldleaf and wooden plinth, 180 x 70 x 149.5 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
The Wick Culture - Viewing Yinka Shonibare’s dazzling “Suspended States” take over Serpentine South
The Wick Culture - Portrait of Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Photography by Tom Jamieson. Image © Yinka Shonibare CBE and Tom Jamieson. DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Queen Victoria), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 139 x 75 x 57 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Above   Portrait of Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Photography by Tom Jamieson. Image © Yinka Shonibare CBE and Tom Jamieson. DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures, 2022-23. Fibreglass sculptures, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern, gold leaf and wooden plinths. Dimensions variable. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE DOWNLOAD ↓ Yinka Shonibare CBE, Decolonised Structures (Queen Victoria), 2022, Fibreglass sculpture, hand-painted with Dutch wax pattern and wooden plinth, 139 x 75 x 57 cm. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York, James Cohan Gallery, New York and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London and New York. Photographer: Stephen White & Co. © Yinka Shonibare CBE

Yinka Shonibare, Suspended States

Serpentine South
12 April – 1 September 2024

It’s hard to believe Yinka Shonibare hasn’t had a solo exhibition at a British institution for more than twenty years – but his hotly anticipated takeover of the Serpentine South will be well worth the wait. In recent years, Shonibare has been celebrated as a curator (including a touring exhibition with the Arts Council Collection, and a survey of contemporary African art held at Stephen Friedman Gallery in 2022). The Nigerian-born artist is also the founder of Guest Projects, an experimental arts space in Hackney active since 2006, and the Guest Artist Space (G.A.S.) Foundation residency spaces he launched in two locations in Nigeria in 2019.

Ahead of his inclusion in the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale (opening next week) this exhibition recentres Shonibare’s highly influential, innovative and original artistic practice. Intertwining Shonibare’s signature visual style (such as his use of Dutch wax print) with the urgency of his social, humanitarian enterprise, the exhibition moves from his recognisable sculptural and textile works, and promises two new large-scale installations: Sanctuary City, a series of miniature models of buildings that are or have been used as places of refuge for the persecuted, each painted black and illuminated from within; and War Library, featuring 5,000 books bound in Dutch wax print with gold lettering, referring to conflicts and peace treaties with imperialist connections. Shonibare’s welcome return proves he’s just as bold and ambitious as ever.
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