The Beninese conceptual artist Meschac Gaba explores themes of globalization, consumerism, and the Western museum through acts of artistic appropriation. In the series of works titled ‘Voyages’, Gaba wraps flags around bundles of old clothes; each is tied to a wooden cane. The flags are all from countries and confederations that have worldwide influence: the European Union, USA, African Union, Vatican, NATO, Russia, China, Union Jack, United Nations, Arab League, Israel, Brazil and Tibet. This specific piece shows the flag of the African Union // Arab League // European Union.
The bundles hang from wooden canes, carved by the artist himself. The canes used in the work could also be seen as pilgrims’ sticks or the defensive weapons of nomadic pastors which, explains the artist, metaphorically signify the defensive object of the contemporary traveler: the passport. Through this comparison, the artist is inviting the viewer to think about this connection between documentation (intricately entangled with racist bureaucracy) and (colonial) borders, as well as a problematic tradition of demarcation of space.