Visual art has historically been an essential vessel through which people have advocated for social change. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, the creation of visual art has again taken on this function of being a facilitator of protest, a channel for outrage and a symbol of defiance. Here is a brief synopsis…
#BLM, Arts, Venue
Black Lives Matter graffiti art removed by Norwich council
Artist Knapple created a large graffiti mural supporting the Black Lives Movement on a wall of the Pottergate underpass in Norwich. Shortly after, the mural was completely painted over by Norwich City Council workers on Thursday 4th June. The mural, which came in the midst of the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement following…
#BLM, Arts, Venue
The unheeded Black muses of art history
Black subjects in fine art have often been overlooked by art historians’ Eurocentric focus on White subjects. In Western art, Black figures integral to our history have been grossly underrepresented. The descriptions of paintings which do feature Black subjects often outrageously belittle their significance, and sometimes even leave them unidentified. Black subjects have also historically…
Arts, Venue
Isolation recommendations: Three artists creating in quarantine
Quarantine: Week Four. Time has lost all meaning, and is instead measured by four waymarkers: is it espresso time, or decaf time? Is it time to create content, or consume it? Fortunately for us non-essential workers, there’s a wealth of new and exciting content to keep us occupied… For searing hot social commentary: Ben Passmore…
Arts, Venue
Special Gems
Hendrickje Stoffels by Rembrandt My special gem is the ‘Portrait of Hendrickje Stoffels’ by Rembrandt that hangs in the London National Gallery. While the painter tends to be well known for his dark and stoic portraits of wealthy men, this piece is a tender and intimate creation stemming from love and admiration. It’s a gem…
Arts, Venue
Exploring ‘Art Deco by the Sea’ – Sun, Surf, Social Change and a very British kind of Escapism
Descending into the entry hall of the Sainsburys Centre’s cavernous underbelly is like sinking your toes into the surf upon the shoreline of a windswept British coast. The world feels different here – it is defined by sunlight and feelings of pleasure, depicting the joys of ease and possibility in simple swathes of flat colour…