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Artworks
Glenn Kaino USA, b. 1972
Spontaneous Combustion (03:02:47), 2017Cotton flags, tarring solution, time41 x 68 in
104.1 x 172.7 cm5915Further images
Glenn Kaino’s flag series began with pure white recreations of the American flag, that were tie-dye soaked with a Civil War-era tarring solution. Simply left alone, the fabric heats up...Glenn Kaino’s flag series began with pure white recreations of the American flag, that were tie-dye soaked with a Civil War-era tarring solution. Simply left alone, the fabric heats up as the oxidation of the chemicals creates an exothermic reaction. This spontaneous combustion appears as a symbolic representation of the volatile nature of this time of crisis. The resulting pattern is a beautifully poignant image of concentric circles, a target, alternating black, tan and white. Under the light of examination, the shadows that the flags cast represent the American flag as clear and pristine as a new flag might—a poetic reminder that even during our most unstable and explosive time, the ideals that exist within our concept of our country might still be preserved.
