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Codes, Ciphers, & Security

Whether entrusting the safekeeping of sacred spaces to a crouching sphinx or creating coded diagrams for a conceptual work, artists have often crafted tools for protection.

Padlock and key, André Omereler, Steel, partially gilded brass, Southern German
André Omereler
1531
The Seated I, Wangechi Mutu  Kenyan-American, Bronze
Wangechi Mutu
2019
Senwosret III as a Sphinx, Gneiss
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
Diagram for Protection, Dennis Oppenheim  American, Black line print
Dennis Oppenheim
1971
Running Fence, Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California, Christo  American, born Bulgaria, a) Cut and stapled fabric, charcoal, pastel, and graphite with traces of white opaque paint on board, mounted on board<br/>b) Photomechanical print<br/>c) Photomechanical print<br/>d) Gelatin silver print <br/>e) Gelatin silver print
Christo
1975
The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
Cadavre Exquis, André Breton  French, Colored pencil on black paper
Multiple artists/makers
1932
Puzzle Card Number 10, The "Overlap" Puzzle, from the Jokes series (N118) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco, W. Duke, Sons & Co.  American, Commercial color lithograph
W. Duke, Sons & Co.
Armstrong & Co.
ca. 1890
The Big Sky, or Marshes, Arthur Wesley Dow  American, Color woodcut
Arthur Wesley Dow
ca. 1912
Armored Form (Yorou-katachi) No. 9, Toki Kenji  Japanese, Plastic and lacquer, Japan
Toki Kenji
2009
Mask, Gilt bronze, French
French
late 18th–early 19th century
Loch Hourn - "Loch of Hell", Robert Moyes Adam  British, Scottish, Gelatin silver print
Robert Moyes Adam
1920s–30s, printed 1960s