Stripes no Stars (2020) Painting

Stripes no Stars (2021) In the midst of a politically charged era, during the presidency of Donald Trump, "Stripes no Stars" emerged as a poignant reflection of the times. I painted this during the pandemic in 2021 and I was attempting to capture the essence of a nation grappling with its identity. The canvas, weathered and worn, serves as a metaphor for the state of the country itself. At first glance, you are confronted with a tattered US like flag, a symbol of unity and pride, albeit in a deteriorated state. The stripes, varying in width and painted in muted shades of cream, red, green, black, and gold stand vertically across the canvas. Each stripe carrying a story, a representation of the diverse facets of American society, but tinged with the sense of decay with Trump at at the centre. In the upper right-hand corner, amidst the rather faded glory of the flag, two rectangular shapes emerge in tarnished shades of pink and red. These shapes, are quite distinct from the rest of the painting, but are not detached; instead, for me they seem symbolise a fragment of hope and resilience within the broader context of discord. "Stripes no Stars" encapsulates a period of turbulence and uncertainty. Through its degraded and worn portrayal of the American flag, the painting challenges viewers to confront the fragility of unity and the resilience required to rebuild what has been tarnished. It stands as a testament to the complexities of a nation in flux, urging you (I hope) to contemplate the deeper meaning behind the Stars and Stripes that have defined America for generations.