Black Flag
Print
1990 (printed)
1990 (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Kiki Smith is a well-known German-born American artist whose work is concerned with issues of feminism and the human body. This is a relatively early work in which she considers fear of disease and uncontrollable deviation, particularly biological deviation such as cancer or AIDS.
The image appeals through its combination of menace and beauty and the implications of its title. Flag-waving can be about victory, fraternity and solidarity but also about protest and warning. Flags signal messages to those who have learned a special language, but can also communicate to people with no specialist knowledge beyond a fairly general cultural awareness.
The image appeals through its combination of menace and beauty and the implications of its title. Flag-waving can be about victory, fraternity and solidarity but also about protest and warning. Flags signal messages to those who have learned a special language, but can also communicate to people with no specialist knowledge beyond a fairly general cultural awareness.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Black Flag (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | aquatint on paper |
Brief description | Kiki Smith: Black Flag, 1990. Etching and aquatint. |
Physical description | predominantly black, rectangular image with whitish circular shape at centre 'spawning' scores of smaller circles - like a fruiting body or cancerous cells- to the left side |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Production type | Limited edition |
Copy number | 15/16 |
Marks and inscriptions |
|
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Kiki Smith is a well-known German-born American artist whose work is concerned with issues of feminism and the human body. This is a relatively early work in which she considers fear of disease and uncontrollable deviation, particularly biological deviation such as cancer or AIDS. The image appeals through its combination of menace and beauty and the implications of its title. Flag-waving can be about victory, fraternity and solidarity but also about protest and warning. Flags signal messages to those who have learned a special language, but can also communicate to people with no specialist knowledge beyond a fairly general cultural awareness. |
Bibliographic reference | Stephen Coppel, Catherine Daunt, Susan Tallman ; with contributions from Isabel Seligman and Jennifer Ramkalawon The America Dream: pop to the present London : Thames & Hudson, in collaboration with the British Museum, 2017. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.3259-1991 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | May 25, 2003 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON