One in a series of collages investigating visual resistance, Aggregate Icon (Concentric Y&B) focuses on camouflage and surveillance and how they are manifested in protest and biology. Exploring aposematism—a form of camouflage in which an animal’s colour and pattern (often yellow and black) function as a siren to warn off predators—this new work draws from and contributes to the artist’s ongoing project MAS-archive (begun in 2008) that catalogues the attire of masked protesters from around the world.

The chromatic and luminous contrast of yellow and black increases visibility and warns of a potential danger for both animals and humans alike. Wyman highlights how this optical strategy has been employed by countless individual protesters and collectives; including the “Yellow Shirts” (Southeast Asia), the Umbrella Revolution (Hong Kong), Black Lives Matter (internationally) and the “Yellow Vests” movement (France). This visual tactic offers the wearer protection as well as an entry point into the social

imaginary of collective desires and wishes for change.

Jemima Wyman, Aggregate Icon (Concentric Y&B) (from center to outside: “Umbrella Revolution,” Hong Kong, 29th September 2014 (holding umbrella), “Umbrella Revolution,” Hong Kong, 10th October 2014 (faux face dust mask), John A Hannah statue at Michigan State University wrapped in caution tape at the “Rally for Resignation,” USA, 23rd April 2018 (caution tape), “Save the Bees” protester, Denver USA, 16th August 2014 (drumming), Pro-democracy protest, Hong Kong, 1st July 2018 (yellow tape cross), “Yellow Vests” protesters, Paris, France, 1st December 2018 (Vikings), Anti-nuclear scarecrow, Gorleben, Germany, 20th November 2011 (Scream scarecrow), Save the Tigers supporter, Alipore Zoo, West Bengal, India, 30th July 2017 (tiger round mask), Protester against ABC and SBS funding cuts, Melbourne, Australia, 23rd November 2014 (Bananas in PJ’s), Protester demanding government accountable for promise of free education and education reform, Santiago, Chile, 27th August 2015 (Homer), Anti-oil reform protester, Mexico, 22nd September 2013 (tiger hat mask), Protesters demanding a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, Rome, Italy, 11th May 2017 (spherical bees), Yellow Vest protester, France, 24th November 2018 (flames), Occupy protester, London, UK, 15th May 2012 (Occupy), Anti-government and pro-Yellow-shirt protester, Bangkok, Thailand, 7th February 2014 (yellow beard), Anti-fracking protester, Little Plumpton, UK, 20th October 2018 (holding sunflower), Protester against modern slavery, London, 14th October 2017 (MEOW), Protesters against cultural budget cuts, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 16th May 2017 (skeletons), Anti-government education reform protester, Acapulco, Mexico, 22nd June 2016 (Grim Reaper), Anti-government labor law reforms protester, Marseille, France, 2nd June 2016 (Darth Vader flares), Anti-Trump protesters at the inauguration, Washington DC, USA, 20th January 2017 (Darth Vader wig), Anti-government protester, Taipei, 29th September 2013 (yellow Scream), “Make Amazon Pay Again” protester, Berlin, Germany, 24th April 2018 (Amazon sad face), Deforestation and anti-Monsanto protester, Argentina, 31st August 2004 (motorcycle), Protester against the jailing of Goodyear protesters, Paris, France, 4th February 2016 (Y&B stripe), Fukushima anniversary protesters with Greenpeace, Japan, 7th March 2013 (Nuclear scream), Anti-Trump protester, New York, 12th November 2016 (fur-coat), Protest against building industry jobless, Milan, Italy, 13th February 2013 (helmets), Dakota Access Pipeline Protester, Standing Rock, USA, 1st November 2016 (all black), Pro-government protester, Moscow, Russia, 6th December 2011 (Darth Vader large), Anti-Brazilian government protester, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, 17th April 2016 (Batman profile), BERISH four rally, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28th August 2015 (Spiderman), “March for Choice” particpant’s sign, London, UK, 1st October 2017 (Lisa Simpson), “Common Front” pro-liberal union and anti-government protesters, Brussels, Belgium, 29th September 2016 (Pikachu), “March Against Monsanto,” Unknown, 24th May 2014 (fabric braid), Pro-immigration protester, San Francisco, USA, 1st May 2013 (Butterfly), Anti-austerity protester, London, UK, 27th March 2011 (yellow flare), “BERISHA Rally,” Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28th April 2012 (Angry Birds), “Over 9000 Anonymous March” protester against the church of scientology, Washington DC, USA, 19th July 2008 (yellow zebra shirt), Anti-Rampal power plant in Dhaka protester, Bangladesh, India, 26th November 2016 (face-paint showing teeth), Protester against Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela, 6th July 2017 (SpongeBob), Protesting Bayer take over of Monsanto, Berlin, 18th January, 2017 (gas mask bee), Anti-nuclear protesters, Paris, France, 14th July 2007 (nuclear rockets)), 2019.