Atelier Van Lieshout

Fasces

2021

Mixed media
Diverse measurements

Fasces consist of bundles of rods bound by a red leather strap, sometimes including an axe with its blade sticking out. As a symbol, the fasces originated in Etruscan civilisation and was passed on to ancient Rome where it represented a magistrate’s power and jurisdiction. The rods symbolised the ‘power to punish’, the axe stood for the ‘power over life and death’ and the strap signified the ‘power to arrest’.

The fasces were later adopted by numerous governments and authorities. In 1792, the First French Republic used the fasces as a symbol for its political entity. A century later the bound rods and axe were included in the US Senate seal. In the early 20th century, the fasces became identified with Benito Mussolini’s authoritarian regime in Italy. The term ‘fascism’ is derived from this word.

Fasces are all about strength in unity. A single rod may be brittle and weak, but bound together in an orderly manner they become unbreakable. Atelier Van Lieshout’s versions of the fasces, however, lack strength and order. The rods used are of inferior quality and the thing is sloppily assembled. The organising system is obviously a failure, resulting in laughable weakness and a pompous display of impotence. These fasces are a parody of the symbol that represents a system geared towards domination, but historically bound for implosion because of inconsistency, irrationality and infighting.

Fasces (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
EHBO, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (NL), 2021 – 2022

For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com