Sphingidae, from the series Nueva Vexilología (neotropical) [New Vexillology (neotropical)]

The patterns in these invented flags are inspired in the winged diurnal butterflies of the Sphingidae family. Pablo Vargas Lugo works across the disciplines of archaeology, astronomy, biology, and cartography. Through “vexillology,” or the study of flags, he explores how flags, emblems, and insignia shape our sense of location and national belonging. By combining the language of flags with natural wing patterns Vargas Lugo exposes how nations appropriate symbols from nature (stars, leaves, animals) in order to present power as “natural.”