Fredartsy
Further images
This striking piece continues the exploration of national identity and sovereignty by confronting the historic constitutional relationship between Wales and the British Crown. Utilizing Arnold Machin’s iconic 1967 bas-relief effigy of Queen Elizabeth II as its foundational canvas, the work transforms the familiar postage motif into a layered political and cultural statement.
The monarch's sculpted silhouette is overlaid with the bold geometry of the Union Jack, where the vibrant crimson cross of Saint George and the deep blue of the Saltire bisect the profile with surgical precision. Rendered with nuanced trompe-l'œil depth, the flag conforms organically to the natural planes of the face, diadem, and drape, visualizing the indivisible entanglement of sovereign authority and state symbolism.
In the upper right corner, the presence of the golden Welsh Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) beneath the bilingual designation CYMRU provides a crucial counterpoint. Historically excluded from the Union Jack due to Wales’s earlier annexation as a principality, the dragon’s distinct inclusion—cast in shimmering gold above the cool slate-grey ground—serves as an intentional assertion of Welsh nationhood, ancient lineage, and enduring cultural sovereignty within the broader framework of the United Kingdom.
Set within an architectural black gallery border, the composition balances precise bureaucratic graphic design with tactile, sculptural oil painting. The £3 denomination confers a monumental value onto the stamp, prompting the viewer to reflect on the complexities of unionism, regional identity, and the modern constitutional tapestry of Great Britain.
Provenance
San Francisco