Shonibare is known for works that grapple with cultural identity and the legacies of colonialism, such as “Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle”, a replica of the ship HMS Victory enclosed in a giant bottle and with 37 sails made from an African fabric. In England, the chosen postbox is located close to the Black Cultural Archives heritage centre in Brixton, an area of south London that has long been a hub for the Caribbean community and other Black minority groups.The Brixton postbox features an image of the painting “Queuing at the RA” by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, which appeared on a limited edition stamp issued by the Royal Mail in 2018 to celebrate the Royal Academy art gallery. A Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020. They will remain that way for the whole of October, which is Black History Month. The Royal Mail said it had selected one postbox in each of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and had them painted black with a gold trim at the top. One of Britain’s most recognisable symbols, red pillar boxes appear on countless postcards and souvenir items, while tourists can often be seen posing for photographs next to the postboxes.

Four of Britain’s distinctive red postboxes have been painted black and gold and adorned with images by or of illustrious Black Britons, in a novel way of celebrating Black History Month.

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