The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London has opened "Morale Patch," an exhibition of new work by Plymouth-born multimedia artist Tanoa Sasraku. The show centers on "Watchlist," a commission featuring a collection of branded trinkets from oil companies, and "Subdued Morale Patch," a series of experimental works on paper created using a novel printing technique with water and ultraviolet light. Sasraku's work explores raw materials, particularly crude oil, as a vehicle to examine themes of national identity and conflict, drawing on her collection of military ephemera and corporate oil-industry mementos.
This exhibition matters because it highlights a growing trend in contemporary art of using industrial and corporate artifacts to critique geopolitical and environmental issues. Sasraku's innovative use of materials—from ancient foraged pigments to crude oil paperweights—and her move to Glasgow to engage directly with Scotland's industrial history underscore a shift toward site-responsive, materially engaged practice. The show also raises questions about art's permanence, as seen in her UV-exposed works designed to fade over time, challenging conventional notions of preservation and value in the art world.