FLAG METAMORPHOSES

Switzerland, Sep. - Nov. 2006: Flag Metamorphoses in the central stations of Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva. Here: Zurich Main Station SBB, Oct. 2006.

A participatory art project - a continuously growing series of animations. Animated by as many artists from across the globe as possible, the flags of all nations in the world are morphed into each other through flash animation. Between each two flags, scenes appear that show a relation between the two countries.

An exploration into the meaning of imagery on flags, aiming to create interrelated associations through questioning, reassessing, fluidizing and re-mixing of diverse national iconography. FLAG METAMORPHOSES lays stress on the relations between nations and identities as changing ones: Only in the permanent re-creation of values, symbols and ways of life, in mixing with others and differing from others, cultures and societies stay alive. Each artist who creates a flag animation expresses such a relation in his/her own way.

You too can contribute ! Download concept with call for participation as PDF

Research

Although the symbols on flags are related to the real history of a country, they often more clearly express specific claims or aspirations - such as strength, independence, beauty or the greatness of the country and its achievements. This makes working with the symbols more complicated, but at the same time elevates the issues under consideration onto a more abstract, philosophical and cultural/historical plane.

The Myths hidden in the flags can be revealed through research and be productively employed in the animation. You and I will also examine relationships between the countries: neighbouring countries, colonial relationships, cultural influences etc.

Basis for the visual realisation of the flag transformations: The symbols displayed on the flags and their meanings; the relationships between countries - historical, cultural, political, religious, economic.

Artistic realisation

Whereas most flags have predominantly simple geometric forms such as stripes, circles, stars, moons, triangles and crosses, in the transformation phase irregular, amorphous, organic and symbolic shapes can emerge (and disappear again). The aim is therefore to add shapes and figures to it which express some connection to the country of the next flag. The transition between two flags can vary greatly, depending on which aspect of the relationship between the two countries the authors choose to accentuate. This is then in effect a never-ending project: every flag could be transformed into every other flag, in both directions and in many different ways.

See the Flash animations!

Call for entries / participation

Deadline: ongoing - the earlier,r the more participations in festivals and exhibitions.

Iinvited are any interested parties from as many countries as possible to develop and design an animation for this series. Download concept with call for submission as PDF

If you are interested, please send me an email saying which flags you would like to animate. I will provide you with the desired flags as Freehand or Illustrator files, to be imported directly into your Flash project.

Each participating artist / author will research the connections between their two chosen countries and independently realise the animation in Flash and send me their Flash scene as project (.fla).

Technical requirements:
Pure Flash image + animation, no text, photo or video.
With sound preferred (please use only your own, or royalty free sounds).
Duration: at least 30 sec.
Format: 768 x 576 pixel, 15 frames per second, black background.

Public presentation

The animations are presented in the internet; the series will grow continuously with the addition of new ones. Each author keeps the copyrights and intellectual property right for her/his own animations, but has to name me as author of the concept.

This longer term project is and will be shown in festivals and exhibitions. Before each presentation, all participating artists / all contributing authors are informed and they'll be named in the presentation.

Flag Metamorphoses is an uncommercial public art project. If it should ever get payed a presentation salary, or if the animation series should ever be sold, the money will be distributed equally between all authors, corresponding to the amount of animations they have contributed.