Air Kid (boy), 2020 is one in the second series of elemental figures Shonibare began in 2010, which consisted of a group of works each titled ‘Earth’, ‘Fire’, ‘Water’ and...
Air Kid (boy), 2020 is one in the second series of elemental figures Shonibare began in 2010, which consisted of a group of works each titled ‘Earth’, ‘Fire’, ‘Water’ and ‘Air’ - the four classical elements believed by the Ancient Greeks to illustrate the complexity of the natural world. A decade after the first series was produced, Shonibare has re-imagined the concept in response to the Climate Change movement and the young activists leading the charge. Air Kid (boy) incorporates elements that characterise Shonibare’s costumed sculptures in his signature Dutch batik print fabrics, and a globe with a hand-painted world map showing the Earth’s global surface temperatures recorded in recent years.