We, Us, Them 1983

John Brack created this painting, "We, Us, Them," using oil on canvas. The artwork presents a flat, table-like surface populated with coloured pencils, each meticulously arranged, punctuated by three labels, ‘We’, ‘Us’ and ‘Them’. The colour palette is subdued, dominated by earthy tones, lending a sense of detachment to the scene. Brack uses the pencils as signifiers, carefully positioned to create distinct groupings. The pencils are arranged in clusters, each associated with a label. The repetitive nature of the pencils, coupled with the categorical labels, invites a semiotic reading of social dynamics. The spatial arrangement of the pencils, their orientation, and clustering suggests division and categorization. This configuration underscores how language and symbols can both create and reinforce social distinctions. The piece challenges us to consider how we construct and perceive identity through language and categorization. Ultimately, the power of “We, Us, Them” lies in its formal simplicity, using everyday objects to prompt introspection on social constructs and their impact on our understanding of self and other.