'Globe Head Ballerina' by Yinka Shonibare
at the Royal Opera House for London 2012 Festival
A new and unique artwork by Ship in the Bottle artist Yinka Shonibare, MBE, is revealed Tuesday 19 June at the Royal Opera House on the exterior of the building overlooking Russell Street in Covent Garden. Entitled Globe Head Ballerina, this new work, part of London 2012 Festival, will remain in place for five years.
The sculpture, featuring a life-sized ballerina encased within a giant ‘snow globe’ was inspired by a photograph of the legendary ballerina Margot Fonteyn, prima ballerina assoluta of The Royal Ballet.
The dancer rotates slowly and appears to encapsulate a moment stolen from the stage of the Royal Opera House. Typical of some of Shonibare’s previous work, the dancer has a replica Victorian world globe as her head reflecting the international work of the Royal Opera House and emphasizing the universality of ballet as an art form.
'Globe Head Ballerina' by Yinka Shonibare
