Robert Frankle

Description

This work makes use of the American flag as a metaphor to reflect on fragility and power, particularly that of the United States. The flag needs to be cradled, spoken to, and reassured as if it were an infant. In fact, according to the Flag Code of the United States, "the flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing."

The flag is folded in the form a triangle similar to the official American procedure. In fact, it is not an ordinary flag in the sense that it was actually flown over the White House.

The work has been developed as both a performance and a video. The artist enters a space containing a chair and a table with the folded American flag on it. He picks up the flag. Then he cradles it while talking to it and moving about through the space.

The work was inspired by Joseph Beuys' performance How to explain painting to a dead hare with which it shares some aspects without being a re-enactment of the historical performance.