What strikes me as somewhat odd is the juxtaposition of Mr. Shonibare work. On the one hand--the beautiful African textiles(Dutch wax cotton) used in the colonial manner of style and then there is the headless mannequins representing life without much of a thought process. The Brooklyn Museum in New York City is exhibiting this intriguing work of the British artist with a Nigerian background. Shonibare's artwork explores contemporary African identity and its relationship to European colonialism through painting, sculpture, installation and moving image. The Brooklyn Museum shows his work on two floors. The first floor opens with the headless mannequin with ocelots and then you proceed towards the back for the video screening of dancers and actors in period costume acting the parts. Followed by the headless mannequin's seated a table holding a discussion. Finally, another video showcasing the actual implementation of the project at the Brooklyn Museum. The fourth floor shows the most of the exhibit and blowed up pictures of the life of Dorian Gray along with notable pictures depicting the a day in the life of a Dandy. Shonibare not only explores racial inequalities and economic strife, but he let's the viewer decide was it worth the invasion of European, American and Asian societies into Africa? You decide.
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