flags seem to always be a touchy subject, a friend of mine, artist cherman kino ganoza, recently got arrested in Peru for adding an image he created of the historical figure tupac amaru (hip hop singer tupac shakur was named after him) to the center of the peruvian red and white flag where the national shield usually goes. tupac amaru is portrayed with a red face. the problem? tupac amaru was used as a symbol by a guerrilla group in peru and the ignorance of the police in determining what is art and what an apology to guerrillas is huge.

this act against freedom of expression, reminded me of the flag i created (see photo) before coming to new york, it's made of salami and white ham, replicating the red and white fields in the peruvian flag. it was shown in an exhibition criticizing the then government of alberto fujimori. i invited the public to eat the flag, eat the patria, the nation, in an act of cannibalism and protest to the abuse and oppression by this government.

it saddens me to see the situation has not changed much in Peru and i'm wondering how much more work we need to do to educate the population and cut down the authoritarian ways of the government.