Artefacts of national subversion: the flag as a critical presence – or a disturbing absence – in contemporary visual art

The incorporation of national flags in contemporary visual art often serves to evoke a fraught relationship between individuals, the nation, and the state. Artists hope that the uneasiness of viewers who observe these works of political art will fuel debate about those who act “in the name” of the nation. They confront viewers with their own position towards flags and remind them of the abiding omnipresence of nationalism in the world. The discussed works of art subvert the national flag; but they may also reconfirm its importance as a focal point for political action.