Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Fiona Banner. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
This untitled screenprinted plastic bag by Fiona Banner combines the mundane with the artistic, featuring bold red letters on a plain white bag. The work subverts traditional notions of art's presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The text 'THE NAM' references the Vietnam War, a departure from Banner's earlier focus on fighter aircraft in film. The casual medium contrasts with the gravity of the subject, inviting reflection on the representation of conflict.
Technique & Style
Screenprinting, typically used for mass-produced prints, is applied here to an everyday object. The uneven, blocky letters and slight fading contribute to a handmade, ephemeral quality despite the industrial technique.
History & Provenance
The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection. While specific creation dates are not provided, it follows Banner's text-based explorations of war themes, as seen in transcriptions of *Top Gun* and *Apocalypse Now*.
Context
Banner's practice often critiques the glamorization of war in popular culture. This piece extends that critique by using a disposable, everyday item to reference a significant historical conflict, 'THE NAM' being a colloquialism for the Vietnam War.
Artist & collection
Artist
Fiona Banner (born 1966), also known as The Vanity Press, is a British artist. Her work encompasses sculpture, drawing, installation and text, and demonstrates a long-standing fascination with the emblem of fighter…
