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

Sunday, 10 November 2019 20:52

The election: Childcare

Written by Martin Gollan

in Visual Arts

The Labour Party has vowed to spend £1bn on opening 1,000 new early years centres in England, saying they would get parents back to work and help children achieve. The Lib Dems are promising working families subsidised care for children from the age of nine months. The Conservatives say they…

Sunday, 10 November 2019 14:53

No More War!

Written by David Betteridge

in Visual Arts

David Betteridge notes how Remembrance Sunday at least marks the huge cost paid by the enforced many, not the few Watching the ceremony from The Cenotaph on TV this morning was an experience of mixed thoughts and mixed emotions. The huge scale of warfare in present and past times, and…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 04 November 2019 10:52

The frackers are fracking off

in Visual Arts

Written by Martin Gollan

Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom has admitted the fracking suspension imposed by the government is a “disappointment”, as the Conservatives face escalating pressure to introduce a permanent ban. Her remarks came as environmental campaigners hailed the announcement of a moratorium on fracking in England, declaring it a victory for communities and…

Cuadrilla Andrea Leadsom jeremy corbyn

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 26 October 2019 13:38

Throne of Blood: an image of Iran

in Visual Arts

Written by Friedrich Farshaad Razmjouie

Throne Of Blood.......For Iran Paperboard, Watercolour & Rotring Rapid, 79cm x 57cm, April 2019

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 26 September 2019 18:35

The revolutionary painting of Rembrandt van Rijn

in Visual Arts

Written by Jenny Farrell

Jenny Farrell marks the 350th anniversary of the death of Rembrandt van Rijn with a discussion of some of his dynamic, democratic and deeply humane paintings Rembrandt’s Times In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Flemish cloth trade had developed into the strongest competitor of Florentine cloth makers and traders,…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 21 September 2019 20:06

International Day of Peace

in Visual Arts

Written by Friedrich Farshaad Razmjouie

Tuesday, 03 September 2019 15:31

The only way out is together: The Venice Biennale and Late Capitalism

Written by Dennis Broe

in Visual Arts

Dennis Broe reviews the biennial festival of contemporary art May You Live in Interesting Times is the title and organizing principle of this year’s Venice Biennale, year curated by Ralph Rogoff, head of the Hayward Gallery in London. Mr. Rogoff is now an officer in something called The Order of…

Saturday, 31 August 2019 13:14

The revolutionary realism of 'Peasant Bruegel'

Written by Jenny Farrell

in Visual Arts

Jenny Farrell discusses the life and work of 'Peasant Bruegel', unearthing the radically subversive protests and criticisms of political domination which are expressed so beautifully in his paintings The greatest of the 16th century Dutch realists is without doubt Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Born around 1525, Bruegel died 450 years…

Friday, 12 July 2019 13:04

'I am a human and I will be seen': the anti-imperialist power of the photographic image

Written by Kate Potts

in Visual Arts

Kate Potts introduces an extract from Decolonising the Camera: Photography in Racial Time, the new book from Autograph ABP director Mark Sealy, published by Lawrence and Wishart This book trains Sealy’s sharp critical eye on the racial politics at work within photography. In the context of heated discussions around race…

Kasavubu Fanon

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 18:16

A History of the Many, not the Few

Written by Michal Boncza

in Visual Arts

Michal Boncza reviews The Many Not the Few, by Sean Michael Wilson and Robert Brown AT THE launch of this timely graphic “history of Britain shaped by the people” in the parliamentary annexe Portcullis House, Jeremy Corbyn made the point — and he should know— that change has never originated…