Paul Fägerskiöld’s “White Flags” relate to symbols whose meaning has gone obsolete. The works are made up of white paint of different textures on natural canvas. Their references are such as the 1861 provisional flag of Florida, whose design looked similar to today’s US ensign except for displaying one large star where we are used to seeing a constellation of fifty; or the California Republic historical banner with a star and a standing bear in the top left section rather than the centered walking Ursus on today’s flag. These former symbols are now devoid signs, freed of their charge that remains in the past without being updated in the present. They are available to be taken again and filled anew, or simply forgotten. Since the symbols are vacant, Fägerskiöld’s “White Flags” can be just what they are: white paintings that do not refer to anything outside of themselves.

– Stefanie Hessler