Flag of The Netherlands rewoven by Jipke Lezwijn

Flag of Germany rewoven by Miriam Hartwig

Flag of India rewoven by Naushad Ali

Flag of Australia rewoven by Sara Lindsay

Flag of Belgium rewoven by Lisa Decavel

Flag of Hungary rewoven by Esther Révész

Flag of Colombia rewoven by Fanny Iguaran Inciarta

The official flag of a country is reduced to loose threads, which are given to an experienced weaver from the concerned country. The weaver makes on his turn a new canvas, according to his private, personal method. This is not only resulting in all kinds of possible sizes and shapes, but is also a celebration of the private visual language, the identity of the weaver. An object that symbolizes a nation and a country, then becomes a platform for an individual, his visual language and his craft.

An extra layer is formed by the desire to transform all the flags of all countries. Physically this may seem a major command, but the crux lies especially in the questions it raises: what is a country, what are borders, who has the authority to determine if something is a country or not, what do you do with countries that are emerging or disintegrating and what is the value of nationalism – and its universality claim?

 
Text written by Stijn Maes for the solo exhibition To catch a moment in time (2016) at KRIEG, Hasselt, BE.

Flags, textile, variable dimensions, 2016

This project is still in process.

Special thanks to Jipke Lezwijn, Lisa Decavel, Miriam Hartwig, Fanny Iguaran Inciarta, Eszter Révész, Naushad Ali and Sara Lindsay.

Made possible by the Mondriaanfonds

Photos: 601Artspace/Marie Noele Guex