The artwork titled “WILLY LOMAN. THE RISE AND FALL (AVARICIOUS AND PRODIGAL)” created by Yinka Shonibare in 2009, utilizes the medium of photography. It belongs to the Contemporary and Postcolonial art movements, and is classified under the genre of photo.
The subject of the artwork captures a striking and thought-provoking scene. A group of nude figures is depicted in various dynamic poses, leaning against or struggling with large burlap sacks, suggestive of a burden or weight. These sacks are piled high in what appears to be an industrial or utilitarian space, with exposed brick walls and a concrete floor. One prominent figure, dressed in bright, patterned attire that contrasts starkly with the nude bodies, seems to be overseeing or controlling the scene. The tension between the figures and their environment, coupled with their expressive, contorted forms, suggests themes of struggle, exploitation, and the dichotomy between wealth and poverty or power and submission. The use of nudity starkly contrasts with the clothed figure, further emphasizing the power dynamics at play, inviting the viewer to consider deeper socio-economic and postcolonial narratives.
