The artwork, “CAKE MAN II,” created by Yinka Shonibare in 2014, belongs to the Contemporary and Postcolonial art movements and falls under the genre of sculpture. The composition captures the essence of critical reflection on the aftermath of colonialism and the complexities involved in contemporary society.
In the artwork, a life-sized figure is seen bending forward, with its arms extended backward, supporting an extraordinarily tall stack of elaborately decorated cakes atop its head. The figure, dressed in vibrantly patterned clothing typical of African textiles, contrasts sharply against the white background. The cakes, each distinct in its decoration and color, create a sense of opulence and excess, while the figure’s posture suggests both struggle and balance. This juxtaposition of lavishness and burden elicits commentary on themes of consumption, wealth distribution, and colonial history.
