On View
On viewObject number2020.40
National Anthem (San Francisco 49ers)
Artist
Kota Ezawa
(American, 1969)
Date2019
Mediumduratrans transparency and lightbox
DimensionsObject: 27 1/2 in. × 47 1/2 in. × 3 in. (69.9 × 120.7 × 7.6 cm)
Credit LineElisabeth Claire Lahti Fund
Exhibition History"Unmasking Masculinity for the 21st Century," KIA Galleries 2-5 (September 24, 2022 - December 29, 2022)
"Unmasking Masculinity for the 21st Century: The Remix," KIA Galleries 2&5 (January 7 - March 12, 2023)
"Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century," KIA (September 7 - February 18, 2025)Label TextThe series National Anthem uses footage from NFL broadcasts to reveal the various stages of protest undertaken by football players against police violence and the oppression faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color) communities.
National Anthem (San Francisco 49ers), presents former quarterback Colin Kaepernick sitting on a bench in protest during the American national anthem. A practice he began in 2016 after the police shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, LA. This image of Kaepernick, a longtime social justice advocate and a vocal protester against police brutality, reveals the crowded, yet lonely path that athletes must navigate in relation to their public and private identities. This moment is also a juxtaposition of two very American acts: honoring the American flag, representative of freedom and sacrifice, and the right to publicly protest. Some may view this moment as belittling the American flag and thus American values; while others may recognize a man using his very public platform to declare the humanity of those who look like him and experience injustice daily. Regardless, the tension in the scene among players and the coaching staff is palpable. As a result, viewers are left to consider how declarations of freedom, justice, and national pride can either divide or unify us. [Label for "Unmasking Masculinity for the 21st Century", 2022]
