Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Iraq Triptych

Artist and sculptor Michael Sandle has produced the above to be the centre piece of the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition. As a protest against the Iraq War, it features Tony and Cherie Blair naked on the steps of 10 Downing Street surrounded by scenes of violence. It has echoes of the children's fable 'The Emporer's New Clothes' where the leader is convinced he looks fantastic and marches out with pride in an 'invisible' cloth of gold but really all his flaws are on show to the watching crowd. A fascinating piece of political communication, using the medium of art, that says a great deal but in a very simple and accessible way.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cherie's got nice tits

Anonymous said...

"The Emperor's New Clothes" is way off the mark. The depiction of the Blairs is an obvious reference to Adam and Eve being cast out of Eden.

Darren G. Lilleker said...

That is the real beauty of art, 1000 people, 1000 different readings.

I like both readings. There is an element of the Emporer's New Clothes about Blair's world tour; equally being cast out of 'paradise' for committing a cardinal sin is interesting.

I have no idea of the artist's idea (though a religious connotation may be linked to the choice of a triptych) but not sure I want to. It is often more fun to read in what you wish.