Izat Arif
2022
To underscore the impossibility of commoners escaping their current predicaments, I have repurposed linoleum to create a coat of arms for the masses. Certain families proudly carry their coats of arms to proclaim themselves as divine guardians of the people. Their wealth, which is inherited from their forefathers, legitimates their position. The unsettled masses, on the other hand, must submit to the existing social hierarchy. Using collage, I formed the coat of arms with the word “takdir”, meaning fate in Arabic, flanked by images of a coconut tree, also known as the tree of a thousand uses, and a classical pillar that evokes domestic aspirations among ordinary folks. This coat of arms serves as both an ornamental object and a sign of fatalism. Those who worship their social superiors but cannot make their ends meet must make do with decorating the rest of their home with spare linoleum.
Linoleum Mat and Steel
396.2 cm x 189 cm
2022