Whitney Biennial

Stripes and fence forever (Homage to Jasper Johns): Made of sheet metal and iron bars this sculpture evokes the American flag while simultaneously imitating the form and materials of the wall dividing Mexico and the U.S. in the Tijuana-San Diego region. Installed diagonally on a base of soil, lined with bricks on the “Mexican” side, and cinder blocks on the “U.S.” side. The work addresses relations between the two countries, while also paying homage to artist Jasper Johns who painted multiple representations of the American flag, which he examined as painting, object, and symbol. In Mexico, altering or misusing the national flag is against the law. Title inspired by/ play on Star-Spangled Banner.
Democracy 2000: Three panels colored green, white, and red reproduce the visual elements of the Mexican flag. Installed six inches apart, the separated panels reference the three distinct branches of government. The white center panel is silk-screened and hand-painted with what appears to be the national coat of arms, with the prickly pear, eagle, snake, water, snails, semi-precious stones, rock, laurel and oak branches, and tri-colored ribbon. In contrast to the official coat of arms– which depicts the eagle with the snake in its beak— the artist offers an ironic representation, showing the snake biting the eagle’s neck, possibly suggesting a more equitable balance of power between people and government.