Question

What is the form of the artwork titled 'The Swing (after Fragonard)' by Yinka Shonibare?

1) A three-dimensional reinterpretation of a Rococo painting by Fragonard.
2) A mixed media installation with a life-size, headless, female mannequin kicking off a sandal.
3) A sandal suspended from the ceiling with a monofilament line, seeming to float in the air.
4) A figure surrounded by artificial greenery and wearing a dress made with elaborately patterned, high contrast fabric.
5) Meant to be viewed from various angles.

Answer 1

Yinka Shonibare's 'The Swing (after Fragonard)' is a mixed media installation featuring a headless mannequin in a patterned dress on a swing, serving as a reinterpretation of Fragonard's Rococo piece.

Step-by-step explanation:

The artwork titled 'The Swing (after Fragonard)' by Yinka Shonibare is a mixed media installation that incorporates several elements for a multisensory experience.

It consists of a life-size, headless, female mannequin wearing a dress made of African print fabric, reminiscent of the Rococo style, kicking off a sandal while positioned on a swing, thereby creating a three-dimensional reinterpretation of Jean-Honoré Fragonard's Rococo painting The Swing. The work can be understood from different perspectives, meant to be viewed from various angles.

Shonibare's piece captures the essence of the original painting's playfulness and eroticism, while also commenting on colonialism and post-colonial identity through the use of patterned fabric that challenges traditional European art narratives.