Honouring the American Flag: A Symbol of Unity, Hope, and Resilience for a Prosperous Future
Author: Distil Ennui | Post Date: 18-01-2025The American flag has long stood as a powerful symbol in the history of art, representing an evolving emblem of identity, resilience, and critique. Artists who engage with this motif play a vital role in weaving the threads that bind communities and cultures together. When that thread is undermined or frayed, the very foundations of society risk decay.
As someone named after Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers, I extend my heartfelt wishes for the nation’s health and prosperity under its new president. May wisdom guide decisions, and may every corner of the electorate find its voice heard. Only by honouring the principles of my namesake, who helped shape the U.S. Constitution, can we safeguard the enduring promise of unity and progress.
My work has sought to continue this tradition, exploring the flag’s rich iconography and its capacity to evoke transformation and dialogue.
On the eve of Donald Trump’s second inauguration as President of the United States on Monday January 20, 2025, I present a 21 flag salute to honor the enduring legacy of the Stars and Stripes. Representing the fragility and strength of a nation and its people, coinciding with the ceremonial 21-gun salute; a moment of gravity and national unity following the presidential oath.
'Plate 0113' American flag in flower petals, photography, oil & carquelure varnish.
A Contemporary Tribute The series originates from an intricate sculpture of the American flag, meticulously crafted from thousands of live flower petals. These petals, ephemeral yet poignant, were captured underwater using the rare large-format analogue technique on 8x10-inch positive film plates. This method imbues the works with a unique sense of depth with a painterly aesthetic interplaying in-between permanence and fragility.
Of the 21 flags, twelve are presented as pure photographic prints, while nine are further transformed through an ageing process. These aged pieces are overpainted in oils, finished with a delicate craquelure varnish, creating a visual dialogue between the fleeting nature of the petals and the timeless endurance of the flag as a national symbol.
Building on the Legacy Throughout art history, the American flag has been a profound subject for artists seeking to challenge, critique, and inspire.
Jasper Johns’s seminal Flag (1954–55) transformed the icon into a layered exploration of personal and national identity, while Robert Frank’s Parade – Hoboken, New Jersey (1955) used the flag as a lens to examine American society’s complexities.
Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima (1945) immortalised the resilience and sacrifice of a nation during wartime
I approached the flag not as a static icon but as a living, evolving symbol. By reimagining it through flower petals immersion in my vast water tanks, using water to paint the scene in light, I feel a dialogue that reflects both the fragility of our shared history and the strength of our collective hope.
A 21-Flag Salute to the American people, released at the precise moment the 21-gun salute is fired by the Presidential Guns Salute Battery by the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard."
Each piece serves as a reminder that art can transcend division and inspire unity, even during times of profound national introspection.
you can view the 21 flag works released at The Distil Ennui Studio STORE