The artwork, titled “CANNON BALL HEAVEN,” was created by the artist Yinka Shonibare in 2011. It is a sculpture belonging to the genres of Contemporary and Postcolonial art.
The sculpture vividly portrays a dynamic scene featuring two life-sized figures positioned around a large, prominent cannon. The figures are dressed in vibrant and elaborately patterned clothing, emulating historical military attire with a distinctive, modern twist. One figure appears to be in the act of firing the cannon, while the other is either retrieving or organizing cannonballs, signified by a pile of vibrantly colored cannonballs situated nearby. The intricacy and colorfulness of the attire juxtapose starkly with the cannon’s formidable presence, creating a striking visual and thematic contrast. The artwork encapsulates elements of historical confrontation and cultural commentary, characteristic of Shonibare’s oeuvre. The setting within a spacious, minimally adorned gallery space allows the viewer to focus intently on the evocative and dramatic tableau created by the artist.
