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.

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Padlock and key, André Omereler, Steel, partially gilded brass, Southern German — Padlock and key
André Omereler
1531

The Seated I, Wangechi Mutu Kenyan-American, Bronze — The Seated I
Wangechi Mutu
2019

Senwosret III as a Sphinx, Gneiss — Senwosret III as a Sphinx
ca. 1878–1840 B.C.

Diagram for Protection, Dennis Oppenheim American, Black line print — Diagram for Protection
Dennis Oppenheim
1971

Running Fence, Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California, Christo American, born Bulgaria, a) Charcoal, pastel, graphite and collage of cut and folded fabric, board, and staples 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 — Running Fence, Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California
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) — The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505

Cadavre Exquis, André Breton French, Colored pencil on black paper — Cadavre Exquis
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 — 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.
Armstrong & Co.
ca. 1890

The Big Sky, or Marshes, Arthur Wesley Dow American, Color woodcut — The Big Sky, or Marshes
Arthur Wesley Dow
ca. 1912

Armored Form (Yorou-katachi) No. 9, Toki Kenji Japanese, Plastic and lacquer, Japan — Armored Form (Yorou-katachi) No. 9
Toki Kenji
2009

Mask, Gilt bronze, French — Mask
French
late 18th–early 19th century

Loch Hourn - "Loch of Hell", Robert Moyes Adam British, Scottish, Gelatin silver print — Loch Hourn - "Loch of Hell"
Robert Moyes Adam
1920s–30s, printed 1960s