Visual Art

Visual Arts

"What do you think an artist is? He’s a political being, constantly alive to heartrending, fiery, or happy events, to which he responds in every way. No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war, for attack and defense against the enemy."

Pablo Picasso

Tuesday, 05 May 2020 08:20

The arts, trade unions, and working-class identity

Written by Anthony D. Padgett

in Visual Arts

Anthony D. Padgett reflects on the arts, trade unions, and working-class identity “Hold tight” I call as we ride on my vintage motorcycle through the steep terraced streets of Lancashire towns. My last day of freedom as I lose all my work to the Coronavirus crisis. We pass the tall…

Peterloo Memorial The Matrix Walter Benjamin

Thursday, 30 April 2020 11:09

The unflinching radicalism of Kim James

Written by Nick Wright

in Visual Arts

Nick Wright remembers Kim James' materialist approach to art What strikes me most about Kim James' place in the discourses around art, creativity and consciousness is his unrelenting philosophical materialism. Of course this is not simply a question of seeing mind and consciousness as part of the material and social…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 16 April 2020 17:40

The precarious lives of working people: Hokusai's Return

in Visual Arts

Written by Chris Nash

Hokusai’s Return by Chris Nash Rowers bent over in labourand reaching for a nowherewhere you can / you cannotdrive further, drive throughoshiokuri bune frail prows,oars in rhyme with the rampagesof the terror’s watery surge you must / you must notdrown under this shunga wave,Prussian-blue hair in cascadeswhere silver fingers of…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 05 April 2020 11:42

The deep and realistic humanism of Raphael

in Visual Arts

Written by Jenny Farrell

Jenny Farrell presents the life and some of the work of Raphael, who died 500 years ago The great Italian painter and architect, Raphael, died on April 6, 1520. He lived at the time of the Italian High Renaissance, one of the most progressive periods of history. As Engels put…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 09 February 2020 09:07

Reframing the Keeler Affair: Women, Class and Dear Christine

in Visual Arts

Written by Tara Hanks

Tara Hanks interviews Fionn Wilson, an artist and curator of a new exhibition of art inspired by Christine Keeler. Main image: Christine Keeler: Anger, Blame, Shame, Ruin, Grief, by Caroline Coon, 2019, oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm Artist Fionn Wilson is the curator of Dear Christine: A Tribute…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 03 February 2020 16:20

Norman Cornish and the Silver Swan

in Visual Arts

Written by Michael Jarvie

Michael Jarvie reviews the Norman Cornish exhibition currently on at the Bowes Museum, Durham, and takes in the Silver Swan as well The Norman Cornish exhibition at the Bowes Museum is a retrospective, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth, and is spread out over three adjacent rooms. There’s a…

Friday, 27 December 2019 09:24

A deep and compassionate humanism: the 150th anniversary of Ernst Barlach

Written by Jenny Farrell

in Visual Arts

Jenny Farrell presents the life and work of Ernst Barlach, born 150 years ago Ernst Barlach was born near Hamburg on 2 January 1870. He was the most important German sculptor of the 20th century. Brecht said about his work: “His genius, meaning, ingenious craftsmanship, beauty without embellishment, stature without…

Friday, 06 December 2019 12:53

The election: A map of Tory Britain, 2019

Written by Mike Bryson and Colin Gardner

in Visual Arts

Sunday, 24 November 2019 21:40

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 25 November

Written by Friedrich Farshaad Razmjouie

in Visual Arts

Mixed Media, Board, 90cm x 60cm #StopViolenceAgainstWomen

Wednesday, 20 November 2019 19:36

The election: we need equality at the heart of politics

Written by Zita Holbourne

in Visual Arts

Zita Holbourne says why she's voting Labour We have had ten years of a hostile environment where migrant communities to the UK who have contributed to the economy and society and raised their families over decades are suddenly told they are in the UK illegally, detained, criminalised and deported. As…