Yinka Shonibare

Refugee Astronaut XII, 2024

Œuvre

Yinka Shonibare

Refugee Astronaut XII, 2024

Sculpture en fibre de verre, tissu « Dutch wax », filet, effets personnels, casque d’astronaute et bottes lunaires / Fibreglass sculpture, Dutch wax fabric, net, possessions, astronaut helmet and moon boots

190 x 101 x 114 cm (74 3/4 x 39 3/4 x 44 7/8 in.)

Refugee Astronaut depicts a nomadic astronaut dressed in Dutch wax textiles and equipped to navigate ecological and humanitarian crises. Carrying a net sack filled with worldly possessions, the figure symbolises the challenges of displacement and contemplates on the notion of space as a potential refuge, it serves as a cautionary tale on environmental negligence and capitalism, challenging the unsustainable pursuit of perpetual growth. The artwork is a cautionary tale and serves as a warning, urging contemplation of the potential consequences of inaction regarding the climate crisis and the resulting displacement of people.