Anthony Stevens British, b. 1978
Prayer Flag No. 2, 2020
Hand sewing, applique, vintage cards and safety pins on mixed textiles
79 x 121 cm
Copyright The Artist
£ 1,500.00
Further images
'I find flags to be strange entities, like people, they are full of paradox and duality. On one hand, they can be symbols of unity, shared values and purpose, an...
"I find flags to be strange entities, like people, they are full of paradox and duality. On one hand, they can be symbols of unity, shared values and purpose, an almost mission statement perhaps? And yet they can be deeply divisive, even amongst those that live and share space under their canopy. Maybe they offer an unspoken promise of certainty, place and identity in times of upheaval, a sense of something permanent in the ever changing world?
When I think of flags and the nations that they represent, I can’t help but think of these things in the context of history and the larger cycles of time that dwarf us. Civilisations such as the Roman empire and the Sumerians before them rose, peaked and declined, leaving only comparative echoes in history. I think for me, the commonality amongst all this are us, people, the human being and all it’s potentialities. We all share the same wishes to be happy, to have comfort in times of need and suffering, to be seen and have a sense that our lives matter, that we are valuable have meaning. I suppose that is why when making these pieces I was so inspired by Tibetan prayer flags. Little squares of thin brightly coloured fabric, so fragile yet imbued with timeless and powerful prayers for the things that can truly unify us, peace, wisdom, courage and compassion, all the qualities of an open heart." Anthony Stevens
When I think of flags and the nations that they represent, I can’t help but think of these things in the context of history and the larger cycles of time that dwarf us. Civilisations such as the Roman empire and the Sumerians before them rose, peaked and declined, leaving only comparative echoes in history. I think for me, the commonality amongst all this are us, people, the human being and all it’s potentialities. We all share the same wishes to be happy, to have comfort in times of need and suffering, to be seen and have a sense that our lives matter, that we are valuable have meaning. I suppose that is why when making these pieces I was so inspired by Tibetan prayer flags. Little squares of thin brightly coloured fabric, so fragile yet imbued with timeless and powerful prayers for the things that can truly unify us, peace, wisdom, courage and compassion, all the qualities of an open heart." Anthony Stevens
