Brazilian artist Vik Muniz regularly reinterprets masterworks of art in a variety of unusual mediums before photographing his creations. Whether in dirt, chocolate, or in this case magazine clippings, Muniz adds his own take to these historically important works of art. In Three Flags, after Jasper Johns, he takes on one of the most recognizable pieces of Americana. Much like how the buildup of pigment in Johns' encaustic painting from 1958 draws the viewer in for a closer inspection, Muniz uses recognizable logos and appropriated fashion imagery torn from the pages of magazines to construct this work in sculptural layers that demand further investigation. Johns famously investigates the act of seeing by using the most recognizable, yet often overlooked, images in his works, and Muniz brings viewers in even further.

John's masterpiece painting is now held in the Whitney Museum of Art, New York, which recently included the work in a major retrospective of the artist in September 2021 through February 2022 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. While the meaning behind John's Three Flags remains up for interpretation, many consider it to be a critique of extreme patriotism in light of the social inequalities of the late 1950s. Perhaps Muniz takes the opportunity to build his flag from magazine clippings alluding to the amalgamation of cultures that is America or to comment on the overstimulation from popular culture and media that we face as a society. Just as how each viewing of Jasper John's piece reveals a new detail, the meaning and symbolism continue to evolve at every turn of Muniz's reinterpretation of the work.

Vik Muniz (Brazilian, b. 1961) was born in São Paulo and began his career as a sculptor before turning his attention to photography and conceptual artworks. He is known for his photographs of unique works he creates by hand, using alternative materials, such as food, garbage, and diamonds. Recreating well-known works of art, people, and places, Muniz reimagines his iconic subjects in his photography. He has exhibited solo shows around the world, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego; and the Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro. His works are in the permanent collections of the Centre Pompidou, Paris; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Instituto Itau Cultural, São Paulo; The National Museum of Art, Osaka; Gana Art Center, Seoul; among others. Muniz currently lives and works in New York.

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