UNIVERSAL VALUES, started 2020
Universal Values tallies real-life geopolitical equations—prisoner exchanges—by embroidering canvas flags. Rarely arithmetically correct, the absurdity of these (in)equations reflects the impossibility of equating one life for another, while also revealing the very facts proving how often nations still resort to this impossible math. Contrary to its sister project White Flags, which partially conceals the nationalities of the individuals involved in each swap, Universal Values embeds national patterns into each equation. A domestic and cross-nationally familiar manual technique, cross-stitch is a binary process that echoes the dual nature of an equation, the polarization of international relations, the increasing pressure to pick sides on geopolitical issues, the pixelization of complexity, the disappearance of nuance, the positive and negative, the front and back.
Universal Values (1985: Israeli vs. Palestinian), 2020
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
30 x 61.5 cm
Universal Values (2021: Chinese vs. Canadian), 2020/2021
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29.5 x 40 cm
Universal Values (2014: Afghani vs. U.S.-American), 2020/2024
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29.5 x 39 cm
Universal Values (2020: French vs. Iranian), 2020/2024
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29.5 x 39 cm
Universal Values (1964: British vs. Soviet), 2020/2024
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29.5 x 39.5 cm
Universal Values (2010: Russian vs. Russian), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29.5 x 45 cm
Universal Values (1979: Soviet vs. Soviet & Soviet-Israeli), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
28 x 40 cm
Universal Values (1983: Israeli vs. Palestinian), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
31 x 66 cm
Universal Values (2019: Ukrainian vs. Donetsk & Lugansk-Russian), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
28.5 x 58 cm
Universal Values (2021: Israeli vs. Syrian), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
28.5 x 41 cm
Universal Values (2022: Ukrainian vs. Russian), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
26 x 50.5 cm
Universal Values (2025: Palestinian vs. Israeli), 2020/2025
Hand-stitched thread on canvas
29 x 51 cm
