Gas Pump Floral Motif (detail)
2005
silk screen dye on cotton
variable
From the Exhibition Catalogue:
Liz Ensz’s intricately laces cross-cultural references for her installation, "Gas Pump Floral Motiff", which blends Moorish and Islamic design principles with geopolitical iconography. From afar, the content of the wallpaper-like installation is subtly overpowered by an overwhelmingly red, white, and blue print pattern. However, once the viewer is able to discern details in the patterning, Ensz’ poignant point becomes clear. By blending geopolitical and sacred iconography of the East and West, Ensz moves towards punctuating the appropriation of cultures, resources, and governments by multinational corporations and financial institutions. Moreover, the subtlety of her works illustrates how the cultural clash of this time is manifested and represented to the public in ways so nuanced as to remain nearly undistinguished.
Liz Ensz’s intricately laces cross-cultural references for her installation, "Gas Pump Floral Motiff", which blends Moorish and Islamic design principles with geopolitical iconography. From afar, the content of the wallpaper-like installation is subtly overpowered by an overwhelmingly red, white, and blue print pattern. However, once the viewer is able to discern details in the patterning, Ensz’ poignant point becomes clear. By blending geopolitical and sacred iconography of the East and West, Ensz moves towards punctuating the appropriation of cultures, resources, and governments by multinational corporations and financial institutions. Moreover, the subtlety of her works illustrates how the cultural clash of this time is manifested and represented to the public in ways so nuanced as to remain nearly undistinguished.
