Tanoa Sasraku's 'Morale Patch' at ICA London explores oil, military symbols through paperweights and UV prints
At the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Tanoa Sasraku presents her exhibition 'Morale Patch,' showcasing 32 paperweight objects filled with crude oil that symbolize various oil-rich regions, from the Gulf to the North Sea. These pieces are arranged on a grid of Italian velvet squares. Additionally, the exhibition features six office-style paperworks marked by rust stains and stenciled designs. This represents a departure from her previous organic creations such as 'Man Engine' (2023) and 'Terratypes' (2022), shifting towards geometric shapes that explore geopolitical themes. Notably, the 'Subdued Morale Patch' series incorporates UV prints on newsprint using sunbeds. Among the works is 'Allomother' (2025), which draws inspiration from artists like Jasper Johns. The exhibition will be open until 11 January 2026.
Key facts
- Tanoa Sasraku's exhibition 'Morale Patch' is on view at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London
- The show features 32 paperweights containing crude oil, representing oil-producing regions
- Sasraku uses sunbeds for UV printing on newsprint in her 'Subdued Morale Patch' series
- The exhibition includes 'Allomother' (2025), a paperwork interpretation of the American flag
- Paperweights were collected from charity shops in Scotland and eBay
- Sasraku consciously departed from identity narratives in her work starting in 2020
- The exhibition runs through 11 January 2026
- Sasraku's previous works include 'Man Engine' (2023) and 'Terratypes' (2022)
Entities
Artists
- Tanoa Sasraku
- Jasper Johns
- Thornton Dial
- William Pope.L
Institutions
- Institute of Contemporary Arts
- ArtReview
- BP
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Plymouth
- Dartmoor
- Jurassic Coast
- Isle of Skye
- Ghana
- Scotland
- Aberdeen
- North Sea
- Gulf