The art of
Collin Douma

the art of
COLLIN DOUMA
Null Flag
Plastic, Cotton, Metal, Rope
2025
A Flag Without a Symbol, a Symbol Without a Flag
Flags are powerful, but they are also burdens. They claim space, draw lines, and divide as much as they unite. Every flag is a declaration of identity, of allegiance, of ideology. But what happens when a flag declares nothing?
The Null Flag is made of a material that is 100% transparent, light as air, yet durable enough to withstand the elements. It exists, but it refuses to be seen. It imposes no meaning, yet it invites infinite interpretations.
For some, the Null Flag symbolizes transparency, openness, and honesty: a call for clarity in a world clouded by misinformation. To others, it stands for absence, neutrality, or rejection: a refusal to participate in the endless cycle of symbols that define and divide us. It could be a ghost of a flag, a placeholder for what could be, or the embodiment of pure potential.
In a time when every emblem is charged with meaning, where even the simplest of symbols can become political, the Null Flag offers a radical alternative: a flag that does not demand allegiance, does not dictate belief, and does not define the viewer. Instead, it works like a window: what you see in it is what you bring.

