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CND chairwoman Kate Hudson, left, with artist/organiser Tanya Tier |
In brutal colours, artists show how war came to cradle of civilisation
ANTI-war celebrities were among guests at the launch of a controversial art exhibition on Wednesday night.
Red Dwarf star Robert Llewelyn joined Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell and CND chairwoman Kate Hudson at the Birds of War – Hawks, Doves and Illegal Eagles exhibition at Candid Arts Trust Gallery in Torrens Street, Angel.
The show is being staged to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It features work by British and Iraqi artists.
The evening included an auction, presided over by Mr Llewelyn, which saw bids being made for a pair of rubbers ears worn by impressionist Rory Bremner when he imitated Tony Blair.
Mr Llewelyn, who used to live in Canonbury Lane and Offord Road, Barnsbury, said: “The role of art in war is instrumental, not least to take the piss out of it and the government.
“In 1997 I was so positive about the ethical foreign policy of the new Labour government and I find it amazing how far things have now come.”
Of the six artists on show, cartoonist Steve Bell was particularly impressed by Tanya Tier’s depiction on canvas of Condoleezza Rice and Dick Cheney, complete with shifty sideways looks.
He said: “They are quite disturbing and have a lot of oomph.”
The art on show demonstrated the importance of imagery in showing what is happening in Iraq, he added.
“A lot of it doesn’t get across in the newspapers and on television because it is nasty stuff and is considered in poor taste,” the cartoonist said.
“There is total denial about it and it’s being censored. Also, there’s still this myth that what the troops are doing is noble.”
Ms Hudson said: “Iraq is the cradle of civilisation and these works bring home to us the power, destruction and casual brutalisation of the war.”
But controversial comedian Aaron Barschak – once billed as a ‘comedy terrorist’ – said he was fully behind the invasion of Iraq and the deposing of Saddam Hussein.
He added: “A friend of mine was locked up by Saddam Hussein for one-and-a-half years in Abu Ghraib prison.
“His family managed to get out and had to drive for 18 hours to escape Iraq in 1999.
“Many people fail to realise that these regimes are dynastic and if they had just taken out Saddam then his sons, Uday and Qusay, would have had Iraq around the neck for another 30 years.”
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