HOTTEA's 'perspective' yarn installation references jasper johns' flag painting

heavily influenced by jasper johns’ ‘flags’, eric rieger, also known as HOTTEA, has created the ‘perspective’ installation, creating a variation of the original painting with woven yarn and stencil painting. the project refers on the artist’s experience of observing johns’ art piece for the first time, reflecting on how our perspective grows and sometimes changes as we grow older.

all images courtesy of HOTTEA

‘when I first experienced ‘flags’ by jasper johns, I was maybe 18 years old’ HOTTEA recalls. at the time, the artist was impressed by the optical illusion of how the eyes take certain colors and change them into different ones, on a white or lighter surface. however, ‘flags’ now represents a much more conceptual experience, with the painting reminding of everything that isn’t there but hides behind the american flag facade. this painting is an optical illusion and to me speaks to how something so obvious can be hiding in plain site.

‘there is so much evil in this world it can make your head spin just thinking about it’ rieger shares. ‘sometimes I wish my perspective could go back to that of childhood – but it’s the knowledge we gain that shapes us into the person we are today.‘ one can only hope that our knowledge will be used for good and not to bring harm onto others.