Navy Seals and Vanessa Beecroft VB 39.

Although she has moved on to more fashion-y subject matter, at the end of the millennium, Beecroft was all about the Navy Seals. My favorite work is VB 39, with its stern order and machismo. Looking back, the entire series is an compelling counterpoint to the chaos of war in the decade that followed.

Eyepatches

I love the duality of eyepatches, worn by pirates, villains, and the occasional hero. They simultaneously represent both danger and vulnerability. Nick Fury of S.H.E.I.L.D. from Marvel Comics wears one, which is an intrinsic part of his character. It hints of previous battles against evil, which were won, but not without sacrifice and personal lost.