“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.”
Adam Shehada introduces one of his artworks. This drawing is called Al Nakba, which is the Arabic for Disaster. I drew it from a photograph, using pencil... Continue reading
David Betteridge visits an arts hub in Clydebank, where he views and reviews a beautiful and disturbing mosaic by Owen McGuigan. “My subject is War, and the... Continue reading
Christine Lindey reviews a new exhibition at Tate Britain, called Aftermath: Art in the Wake of World War One. It includes powerful, angry and sorrowful anti-war and... Continue reading
Sanjiv Sachdev reviews Another Kind of Life, Photography on the Margins at the Barbican Art Gallery. Photographer Mary Ellen Mark’s comment that she is “…interested in people who... Continue reading
Jenny Farrell salutes John Heartfield, the creator of political photomontage, who died fifty years ago. John Heartfield is one of the most important European artists. He works... Continue reading
Nick Wright discusses, art, anti-semitism, and anti-Corbynism. Labour is weathering a co-ordinated campaign which combines criticism of Corbyn’s policies and persona with an intensified drive to brand... Continue reading
Helen Pheby discusses the role of artists and cultural institutions in helping to change the world. On 20 February 2018, the UN World Day of Social Justice,... Continue reading
John Green introduces some Karl Marx bicentenary cartoons and caricatures. 5 May 2018 marks the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx. To commemorate this the Ken... Continue reading
Sanjiv Sachdev reviews an exhibition focusing on the influential, dangerous and subversive power of jazz. It is nearly a century since live Jazz came to Britain. Playing... Continue reading