Shifting States: Iraq

Luis Cruz Azaceta, Shifting States: Iraq, 2011, acrylic, prisma color pencil, oil stick, and shellac on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2014.52, © 2011, Luis Cruz Azaceta
Luis Cruz Azaceta, Shifting States: Iraq, 2011, acrylic, prisma color pencil, oil stick, and shellac on canvas, 84 × 158 in. (213.4 × 401.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2014.52, © 2011, Luis Cruz Azaceta

Artwork Details

Title
Shifting States: Iraq
Artist
Date
2011
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
84 × 158 in. (213.4 × 401.3 cm)
Copyright
© 2011, Luis Cruz Azaceta
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
acrylic, prisma color pencil, oil stick, and shellac on canvas
Classifications
Highlights
Object Number
2014.52
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2014.52

Artwork Description

Luis Cruz Azaceta, who immigrated to the United States from Havana during the Cuban Revolution, began a series he called Shifting States after seeing news coverage of the uprisings in the Middle East collectively referred to as the Arab Spring. Here a central black and orange shape floating in the cloud of a smoky explosion suggests the centrality of oil to the area's political turmoil. Attached to it are elements that resemble bombs, cannons, minarets, oil rigs, and the antennae that powered social media used by both the protesters and government surveillance teams. For Azaceta, this series "maps a new terrain" of our uncertain, current times.

Works by this artist (12 items)

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Gustaf Oscar Dalström, Railroad Station 1880 (mural study, St. Joseph, Missouri Post Office and Courthouse), 1941, tempera, pencil and crayon on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1974.28.90
Railroad Station 1880 (mural study, St. Joseph, Missouri…
Artist
Date1941
tempera, pencil and crayon on paperboard
Not on view
Gustaf Oscar Dalström, Abandoned Farm, 1934, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.418
Abandoned Farm
Artist
Date1934
etching on paper
Not on view
Gustaf Oscar Dalström, (Untitled) (mural study, St. Joseph, Missouri Post Office and Courthouse), 1941, tempera, pencil and crayon on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1974.28.91
(Untitled) (mural study, St. Joseph, Missouri Post Office…
Artist
Date1941
tempera, pencil and crayon on paperboard
Not on view
Gustaf Oscar Dalström, Night, Chicago World's Fair, 1933, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.529
Night, Chicago World’s Fair
Artist
Date1933
etching on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Artist
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Artist
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Artist
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Image Not Available
Les Quais de la Seine a Paris
Artist
Date1917
hand-colored etching on postcard
Not on view