“The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history” – Woodrow Wilson.
Putting some feminine energy into these national symbols. These are a humorous and visually arresting, ever growing series of flags made by scanner photography of hundreds of volunteer models in their underwear. Click each flag for sizes and purchasing information. All flags come Print Only or ready to hang, eliminating then need for expensive framing. Read More Flags are symbolic, as is the act of subverting them. They are associated with warfare, male power, nationalism and dominance with their purpose often coopted and distorted by political factions. So I’m turning that around to give them a sensual, feminine reworking, using that other most powerful of symbols, the bra. The underwear we choose says a lot about us. These bras are all from the my models’ personal collections, each one a choice they have made about their femininity and their bodies, modelled for me to create this series. It’s numinous. I make these images using an adapted document scanner as my camera, deliberately flattening the breasts to maximise the extent of the fabric, and hence the colour, within the frame. It’s a purposeful move to make them one step removed from conventional nude photography which can struggle to disassociate itself from pornography. This methodology and ideology draws its lineage from my roots as an experimental, socio-political artist. So much of my work uses the emotions people attach to such symbols for sociopolitical effect and this series is no different but is also about the joy of making cool visuals and supporting a good cause. I use this work to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment and I donate a portion of sales to local breast cancer charities wherever they are exhibited. In the UK it is Breast Cancer UK. I’m not beating you up with a message here. Life’s too short to be serious all the time. If you’d like to order your own national flag or any one you don’t see here then do email me with your ideas. You may wish to look at the commissioning FAQ page first. Read Less
