Living his whole life on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Irish artist Gavin Campbell’s video performance piece ‘Flag’ addresses the mental and physical positioning and shifting of space. In this work the result of desire, want and need motivated by fear are made visible. In a desperate attempt to become , feel or prove his ‘Irishness’ Gavin attempts to consume the Irish tri-colour. To make it apart of him. After over coming the initial oddity of this act and contemplating if this is an attack it becomes apparent that this is a desperate attempt of longing, want or even lust . Gavin shows us the fine line of losing ones dignity with in the pursuit of want that’s motivated by fear. A fear that gives birth to blind patriotism and nationalistic ideas.

This piece shows us the grip fear or that of a perceived fear can have on us all. in this piece it is an Irish tri colour but it could be easily replaced by many other flags from Europe and that of the united states of America. It goes some way making visible the use of fear used upon us everyday from advertising companies to governments.