Year: 2012
Medium: carpet, formica, astroturf, screenprint on plywood, OSB, resin, cast on panel and stainless steel frame
Dimensions: 217 x 167.5 cm (85 1/2 x 66 in.)
Acquired from Sotheby’s, 2023
Jackson has been working on a series that focuses on the modern history of the United States as symbolized on the cover of the magazine “Life.” As the title suggests, this work is based on this issue published on September 8, 1958. The cover features a headline highlighting the Galápagos Islands, with an illustration of a Galápagos giant tortoise and a scarlet flycatcher. Both the Galápagos giant tortoise and the scarlet flycatcher are connected to Darwin. The book “On the Origin of Species” was published in 1859, but during the 100 years leading up to the publication of this magazine issue, there was much discussion of evolution and sometimes conflict from the perspectives of religion and ethics. 1958 was an era when anti-evolution legislation was still the law in some states in the United States. Jackson’s work almost traces the exact original cover, but it is expressed as an inlay work using a variety of materials, including artificial turf-like carpet and interior decorative panels. The distinctive red design, which originally appeals to buyers at first glance as being the “Life” magazine cover, is not illustrated in this work. In addition, an inverted identification tag worn by soldiers has been added on the lower left of the work. Perhaps due to the choice of materials, it reveals a darkness and heaviness that contrasts with the overall bright and light impression of the work. What does this mean to be?
