A gadfly is a person who persistently provokes, criticizes, or challenges others in order to rouse them from complacency. In this piece, I imagine a literal union between the gadfly and its oppressor: the fly ribbon. The inspiration comes from a personal memory of visiting a friend’s all-boys college house, where fly ribbons hung from the ceilings as a practical solution to an ongoing fly problem. I remember finding them disgusting as they swayed overhead, often sticking to my hair as I walked past. While the work draws from this specific experience, it also considers the broader meaning of the gadfly today. The piece reflects on the tension between disruption and control, questioning how together we challenge the status quo.

12” x 1” x 2”

fly: 12mm x 7mm