Western Flag (Spindletop, Texas) 2017

A new commission by artist John Gerrard from Channel 4’s Man-Made Planet. Depicting as a real-time simulation, the now barren and exhausted site of the first major oil find, ”Lucas Gusher” in Spindletop, Texas.

From April 21–27 ”Western Flag” will display on the the Edmond j. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House, WC2R 1LA London.

The work will interrupt Channel 4’s broadcast schedule in bursts over 24hrs starting 9pm on April 23rd and stream live and continuously at all4.com/westernflag.

Credits:
Producer: Werner Poetzelberger
Programmer: Helmut Bressler
Modelers: Max Loegler, Philipp Marcks
Game Engine: Unigine
Installation development: Jakob Illera / Inseq Design

Course Of Events

(ALL TIMES GMT, UTC+0)

Live Stream

20 April - Perpetuity

A live stream of the flag can be experienced on All 4 at all4.com/westernflag.On Earth Day (22nd April) use your screen, tablet or phone to broadcast the artwork anywhere you choose, stream it in full screen or share it using #westernflag.

Making Western Flag

20 April - Perpetuity

John Gerrard tells the story behind his new artwork, commissioned for C4 to mark Earth Day.
Watch on YouTube / Channel 4

Installation

21–27 April 7AM–11PM

A large-scale LED wall installation by artist John Gerrard in Somerset House’s The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court on the occasion of World Earth Day. Visit, gather, discuss. Supported by: JJ Charitable Trust, Mark Leonard Trust, Ashden Trust and the Western Flag Supporters Circle.

On Air

22 April (World Earth Day)

Channel 4 will broadcast the artwork in short bursts that will abruptly interrupt the normal flow of transmission over the course of entire day and night on 22 April (World Earth Day).

John Gerrard

John Gerrard, (born 20 July 1974) an Irish artist, best known for his large-scale real-time computer simulation works, frequently referring to structures of power and networks of energy that have made possible the expansion of humanity in the past century.

”One of the greatest legacies of the 20th century is not just population explosion or better living standards but vastly raised carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This flag gives this invisible gas, this international risk, an image, a way to represent itself.” John Gerrard

John Gerrard is represented by Thomas Dane Gallery, London, and Simon Preston Gallery, New York. See further work on johngerrard.net.

Recent solo presentations of Gerrard's work include Power.Play, UCCA, Beijing, China (2016), Farm, Thomas Dane Gallery, London (2015) Solar Reserve, Lincoln Centre in association with the Public Art Fund, NYC. USA (2014), Sow Farm, Rathole Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2014), Pulp Press (Kistefos) 2013, a permanent install for Kistefos Museet, Norway. Exercise (Djibouti) 2012, for Modern Art Oxford, Oxford, UK and Infinite Freedom Exercise, Manchester International Festival, Manchester, UK (2011). His work Flag (Thames) 2016 was recently seen as part of the Shanghai Biennial, Power Station for Art, Shanghai, curated by Raqs Media Collective. John Gerrard is is represented by Thomas Dane Gallery, London, and Simon Preston Gallery, New York. For further information see johngerrard.net