Arms no. 31
Cast aluminum, textile patchwork, display case with fabric swatches, and paper handout with text/ flag: 233 x 329.5 cm; pole (length): 388.6 cm, pole (diameter): 7.6 cm/ 2016
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Collection
Cast aluminum, textile patchwork, display case with fabric swatches, and paper handout with text/ flag: 233 x 329.5 cm; pole (length): 388.6 cm, pole (diameter): 7.6 cm/ 2016
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Collection
Arms no.31 also conveys the diverse histories of Taiwan. A flag in the tradition of coats of arms, the work contains elements representing subsections of Taiwanese society, including aboriginal groups and religious communities. The nearby vitrine and accompanying handout explain the sources of the flag’s many fabrics and the narratives behind select elements. By connecting history and storytelling, Jao created a collective insignia of Taiwan that honors individual memory and experience.
