Creatures of the Mappa Mundi
This artwork featured in Creatures of the Mappa Mundi (2019). A Meadow Arts commission.
Internationally celebrated artist Yinka Shonibare creates new quilt artworks for Hereford Cathedral, commissioned by Meadow Arts.
“Illustrated on the map are various creatures, natural and unnatural, and ‘Monstrous Strangers’ from all over the medieval world.
Alongside the creatures are drawn an array of strange and wonderful people, both real and unreal. These depictions are likely to have been influenced by travellers’ exaggerated tales of dangerous foreign cultures. 32 outrageous peoples are illustrated, such as the Blemmye; a war-like race of people with no heads, and facial features in their chests. Sciapods or Monoculi, are also found, tales of these scary beings who had just a giant single foot included theories on how they were able to move quickly on their one leg and they were believed to use their large foot to shield themselves from the sun.
This show is an exploration of two of the most pressing concerns of our time, environmental protection and immigration.
Inspired by the ability of the Mappa Mundi to still be reflecting our contemporary concerns of fear of the stranger or “other” which often leads to xenophobia. The depictions of extinct creatures of legend are a reminder that we may yet become extinct if we do not take care of our environment.
The exhibition will contain a series of new wall hangings, depicting various creatures and strangers from the map.”
Yinka Shonibare, 2019
Supported by Herefordshire’s a Great Place, a Herefordshire Cultural Partnership cultural development project delivered by Rural Media. Great Place is co-funded by Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery, with support from Historic England.
Image: Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Creatures of the Mappa Mundi, Mandragora. A Meadow Arts commission, 2019. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Photo: Stefan Handy.
About the artist
Yinka Shonibare CBE
Yinka Shonibare CBE (RA) exhibited in Creatures of the Mappa Mundi commissioned by Meadow Arts.
Image: Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Creatures of the Mappa Mundi, Mandragora. A Meadow Arts commission, 2018. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Photo: Stefan Handy.