A significant artwork titled "Re-Union Jack" has been created from discarded Union Jack flags, previously displayed on lamp-posts, as a statement of unity. Birmingham-based textile artist Clare Elisabeth is the creator of the piece, which she states is a response to a flag-raising movement that had "caused division in communities across the country."
The four-meter by seven-meter artwork was constructed by a small team led by Elisabeth, who typically works with vintage fabrics. The massive Union Jack is composed of dozens of worn-out flags, sewn and glued together. It is adorned with the names of hundreds of notable figures from the West Midlands. Some individuals, including a descendant of inventor James Watt and members of reggae bands Steel Pulse and UB40, have visited the project to endorse it by adding their signatures.
Elisabeth created the artwork as part of the International Day of Birmingham, intending to celebrate the region's heritage as a "magical melting pot." The project highlights the transformation of discarded materials into a symbol of community and shared identity.
