About Artwork

Shonibare, whose monumental Wind Sculptures graced the MCA Chicago Plaza during the summer of 2014, has made small-scale versions of the sculptures created exclusively for the MCA’s 2015 Limited Edition Series. Each is hand painted in one of five patterns and are immediately recognizable as his signature style. The sculptures were inspired by the sails of ships, and the patterns derived from Dutch wax fabrics widely used in Africa. Shonibare often uses these iconic fabrics in his work to exemplify how signs of national or ethnic identity are culturally constructed.