ARTWORK > Secret Codewords of the NSA

I began working on these small (6" x 6") prints in November 2013 when I read an article in the NY Times that mentioned a number of codewords that the NSA uses to identify various operations and information-gathering techniques. Many of the codewords they cited, like “dishfire,” were just begging to be illustrated. So I did some internet sleuthing and discovered a treasure trove of over 400 NSA codewords to work from. I decided to do 26 of them, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each codeword is blind embossed rather than inked, in the spirit of keeping things secret.

"These little woodcuts smartly skewer the massive programs they draw attention to, with jabs of word play and the simple act of naming something that maintains power by remaining unnamed." -Beth Cullom, Cullom Gallery

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Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a secret code words of the NSA called accordian

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called blackpearl

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called cultweave

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called dishfire

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print, image of olive oyl, by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called evilolive

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of goldfish by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called fishbowl

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of genie coming out of a bottle by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called genie

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of constellation Hercules by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called hercules

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of iceberg by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting a secret code word of the NSA called iceberg

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting an octopus and planet earth illustrating the NSA codeword juggernaut;

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of man panning for gold by artist illustrator Annie Bissett illustrating a secret code word of the NSA called klondike

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print of lifesaver from the Titanic by artist illustrator Annie Bissett depicting an NSA code word called lifesaver

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting an Uncle Sam themed magic lantern

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting dead honey bees and a robobee illustrating the NSA code word nectar

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a mermaid

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting an indian blanket pattern in black and red

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting the Facebook 'Like" hand coming out of a cloud like a tarot card, to depict the NSA code word quantumhand

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a ronin Kabuki actor, after Katsukawa Shun'ei

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a Greek style sphinx with the head of Lady Liberty

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a tin man being chased by a flying monkey

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting an eclipse, a black circle with yellow glow

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a male dancer dancing the bara'a or dagger dance

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a dowsing rod

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting an X with a fingerprint inside

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a buffalo / bison

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

Woodblock print by Annie Bissett depicting a Russian commemorative Podstakannik

Japanese woodblock (mokuhanga)

6" x 6" (15.24 x 15.24 cm)

A self-published book by Annie Bissett

"SECRET CODEWORDS OF THE NSA"

7" X 7", 56 pages