The African Library is a piece of installation art created in 2018 by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, based on his previous successful works The British Library and The American Library. It features books wrapped in Dutch wax printed cotton with named of prominent Africans on the spines. Shonibare intended the piece as commentary on the African struggle for liberation in European colonies, and the ability of Africans to be successful post-liberation.[2]

The African Library
ArtistYinka Shonibare
Year2018 (2018)
SubjectEuropean colonisation and liberation of Africa
Preceded byThe American Library[1]
Websitewww.theafricanlibraryinstallation.com

Locations

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It was displayed at the Goodman Gallery in 2018[3] and Museum der Moderne Salzburg in 2021.[2]

Collections

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Two 2020 spin-off collections, titled The African Library Collection: Writers and The African Library Collection: Musicians, were sold by the Goodman Gallery.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ Jones, Ladi'Sasha (2018-11-09). "Yinka Shonibare: the Past is not the Past". The Art Momentum. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  2. ^ a b "About". The African Library. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. ^ "Yinka Shonibare | The African Library (2018)". Artsy. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  4. ^ "Yinka Shonibare | The African Library Collection: Writers (2020)". Artsy. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  5. ^ "The African Library Collection: Musicians, 2020 by Yinka Shonibare CBE (RA)". Ocula. 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
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