Work / Elegy to the American Republic
Looking becomes a metaphor for devouring
Elegy to the American Republic (Preamble)
Elegy contains 200 images of American war dead. Clicking on a thumbnail image allowed a larger version to be viewed. With each viewing the image would degrade, gradually becoming almost completely white and disappearing into the page.
View the documented installation of Elegy to the American Republic
What happens to memory when the images are gone?
How does the act of devouring alter our perception?
What happens when we realize that someone else has already looked?
What sort of truths are expressed if you can change the image?
--
Robert Spahr
February 11, 2007
Elegy to the American Republic (Tiles)

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Elegy to the American Republic (tile #14)
laser print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9.25"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #13)
laser print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9.25"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #12)
laser print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9.25"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #11)
laser print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9.25"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #10)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
This work is signed and dated on the backside.

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Elegy to the American Republic (tile #9)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
This work is signed and dated on the backside.

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Elegy to the American Republic (tile #8)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
This work is signed and dated on the backside.

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Elegy to the American Republic (tile #7)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #6)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #5)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.

click on the image to see a larger version
Elegy to the American Republic (tile #4)
inkjet print, acrylic & charcoal on paper mounted on archival mat board, 6" x 9"
Some layers of paint and paper are scrapped away. This work is signed and dated on the backside.
