General Idea, Ghent Scarf (Poodle)

Ghent, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, 1984. Scarf, screen print on nylon, 76 x 72 cm, plus 2 text sheets by Jan Hoet in Flemish and English. Housed in a black cardboard box, 25.5 x 25.5 cm, with colophon label and text on interior ('The Poodle never begs except for meaning'). Signed and numbered 122/500.

The multiple is a smaller version of General Idea’s 1984 'Ghent flag' in which the artists revamped Ghent's official emblem, replacing the lion by a poodle. Some controversy aroused when 50 flags were displayed in the city, but the mayor made a public statement in favour of poodles. The item shows edge wear on the exterior of the box, creasing on text sheets, scarf with traces of use.