Yinka Shonibare – Creatures of the Mappa Mundi

Internationally celebrated artist Yinka Shonibare created six new quilt artworks for Hereford Cathedral, commissioned by Meadow Arts.

Creatures of the Mappa Mundi was inspired by one of Hereford Cathedral’s treasures, the Mappa Mundi (the largest medieval map of the world to survive to the present day). Shonibare invited diverse Herefordshire groups to contribute to the project by coming together for sewing sessions, intended to spark debate on current hot topics, including the environment and immigration.

The Hereford Mappa Mundi is a remarkable artefact with rich illustrations, some depicting strange people and animals, drawn by artists from various myths or the exaggerated descriptions of travellers to far off lands. Shonibare was inspired by these creatures to create a series of figures both realistic and supernatural, for a series of textile hangings that were shown at the Cathedral’s Mappa Mundi & Chained Library exhibition space.

Meadow Arts and Hereford Cathedral invited a range of local groups to meet Studio Shonibare at the Cathedral Cloisters, to hear about the project. Groups from the Courtyard Hereford’s Creative Ageing project; Diploma in Art & Design students from Hereford College of Arts; Rose Tinted Rags and charity for disabled people, Echo, took part in the project. The aim was to stimulate lots of interesting discussions about the environment and immigration. A short film of the process accompanies the artwork.

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, 2018. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Photo: Stefan Handy.