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North-Western Enemy

Print
2002 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This set of prints is derived from Olga and Alexander Florensky's multi-disciplinary project 'Russian Trophy', 2002. This was a collection of objects from an imaginary military museum, including ramshackle sculptures and fanciful war machines made from found objects and materials, banners, flags, graphics, paintings and films.The project satirised the fortress mentality and xenophobia of the Russian Empire and its successor the Soviet Union. Russia's historical rivals are not named explicitly but alluded to with thinly disguised versions of the flags of countries such as Britain ('North-Western Enemy'), France ('South-Western Enemy') and Japan ('Eastern Enemy'). Other flags comically representing hostile forces such as 'Subaquatic Swimming Troops' or 'Military Therapy Troops' could be battlefield trophies captured from an imaginary enemy. The whole set is contained in a wooden box with the title stencilled onto a lid screwed shut with wingnuts to resemble a crate of military supplies or equipment.

Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • North-Western Enemy (assigned by artist)
  • Flags of Main Enemy States (series title)
Materials and techniques
Screen print
Brief description
Olga & Alexander Florensky, Flags of Main Enemy States / North-Western Enemy, 2002.
Physical description
Rectangular (landscape format) image of a flag resembling the Union Jack but with different colours, lettered within, above and below the design in Russian and English, numbered, initialled and dated in pencil, bottom right, blind-stamped HAND PRINT WORKSHOP, bottom right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 78.8cm
  • Width: 53.9cm
Production typeLimited edition
Copy number
21/27
Gallery label
Olga and Alexander Florensky are members of the satirical Mitki group. These prints are from their multi-media project Russian Trophy, a collection of fantastic objects from a fictional military museum. The project satirises the fortress mentality of the Soviet Union. Russia’s historical rivals are not named explicitly but identified by thinly-disguised versions of their national flags (left). The regimental banners of the comical ‘troops’ (right) could be battlefield trophies from an imaginary war. (22/10/2016)
Credit line
Given by Olga and Alexander Florensky
Summary
This set of prints is derived from Olga and Alexander Florensky's multi-disciplinary project 'Russian Trophy', 2002. This was a collection of objects from an imaginary military museum, including ramshackle sculptures and fanciful war machines made from found objects and materials, banners, flags, graphics, paintings and films.The project satirised the fortress mentality and xenophobia of the Russian Empire and its successor the Soviet Union. Russia's historical rivals are not named explicitly but alluded to with thinly disguised versions of the flags of countries such as Britain ('North-Western Enemy'), France ('South-Western Enemy') and Japan ('Eastern Enemy'). Other flags comically representing hostile forces such as 'Subaquatic Swimming Troops' or 'Military Therapy Troops' could be battlefield trophies captured from an imaginary enemy. The whole set is contained in a wooden box with the title stencilled onto a lid screwed shut with wingnuts to resemble a crate of military supplies or equipment.
Collection
Accession number
E.636:1-2014

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Record createdSeptember 9, 2014
Record URL
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