‘FLAG SHAG’
Paul Conneally and Miffy Ryan
October 2025

This piece is the first of many responses coming out of ongoing debate and research by the Loughborough based art collective ‘Masking Group’ around the current flagging of English streets with the flag of St George.

The mass flagging appears to be undertaken and organised by nationalist right wing groups and also sometimes self proclaimed ‘patriotic’ individuals.

The organised groups are led and encouraged by the far right but the wider support for ‘flying the flag’ is a more complex mix of people and ideologies.

This piece is by Paul Conneally and Dr. Miffy Ryan. The artists are both part of the loose art collective Masking Group which continues to debate, research and explore this and other issues and its members will formulate their own and joint responses.

We stand in solidarity with those who feel threatened and marginalised by this flagging.

‘FLAG SHAG’ is not so much about the flag itself but around exploring the contexts and intentions behind its use in the mass flagging of our streets and other related actions.