![]() ![]() Shepard Fairey From the Archives: Imperial Glory 2011Ī post shared by Shepard Fairey on at 4:59pm PDT I am waiting for an explanation from the Design Museum, but I unequivocally do not support their decision to do business with an arms manufacturer, and along with many of the other featured artists, I will be taking action. Even as a financially destitute artist, I have turned down several lucrative offers from companies whose values don’t align with mine. I have made many pro-peace images as well as art that is critical of the arms industry, so the museum’s actions are disturbingly contrary to my values. I’m very disappointed in the poor judgment that the Design Museum in London displayed by renting their space to a company which manufactures military arms while simultaneously hosting an art show of activist images. ![]() And we are disappointed that this protest has impacted the visitor experience of this important exhibition.” The museum’s policies are in line with those of our peers in the cultural sector. “The museum has clearly shown that it believes in giving the views expressed in the exhibition a hearing, without suggesting that it is taking a position on them itself. We believe that it is important to give political graphics a platform at the museum. “The Design Museum is proud of the Hope to Nope: Graphics and Politics 2008-18 exhibition. The Design Museum’s label states: “This artwork was removed at the request of the lender who has objected to a private event by an aerospace and defense company that was held at the Design Museum. On visiting the museum, a-n News counted 23 labels where works had been removed – about a third of the entire exhibition. Join us in asking the to say #NopeToArms & set up a public ethical funding policy – it’s possible & it’s the right thing to do.” ![]() Among those at the protest was the photomontage artist Peter Kennard, who has removed his 2003 work ‘Union Mask’ from the museum’s permanent collection.Īlso present were The Craftivist Collective, who tweeted: “We’ve just collected our Mini Banner #craftivism DIY kits that were being sold as part of the #HopeToNope exhibition section in the shop. “It is the artist’s hope that the museum will now establish a new policy stating that they will not take money from the arms, fossil fuel and tobacco industries or use art to legitimise those profiting from war, repression and destruction.”Įarlier today, artists and anti-arms trade activists protested at the museum. ![]() The artist views this as a violation of their personal ethics and ethics that should be the norm for arts institutions. Hyperallergic reports that the requested statement read: “The artist has asked for their work to be removed because the museum recently hosted an arms trade event. The artists requested that the museum replace each of the artworks with a statement explaining why it has been removed. They also accused the museum of crossing an ‘ethical red line’ by hosting Leonardo’s event, adding: “You have made a very clear statement that you do not share these concerns and are happy to let war profiteers use your spaces if the price is right.” “‘Hope to Nope’ is making the museum appear progressive and cutting-edge, while its management and trustees are happy to take blood money from arms dealers.” The statement, which is signed by 37 individuals or groups with works in the exhibition, in the museum’s permanent collection, or for sale in the museum’s shop, said: “It is deeply hypocritical for the museum to display and celebrate the work of radical anti-corporate artists and activists, while quietly supporting and profiting from one of the most destructive and deadly industries in the world. Last week the artists released a statement under the banner ‘Nope to Arms’ criticising the museum for receiving unethical funding following the event on 17 July, scheduled to coincide with the Farnborough Air Show, which took place at the same time as the museum hosted a ‘Hope to Nope’ discussion about the role of social media and design in contemporary social justice politics. Artists taking part in the London Design Museum’s current exhibition ‘Hope to Nope: Graphics and Politics 2008–18’ have removed their work from the show in protest against the museum’s decision to host a private event organised by the Italian ‘aerospace, defence and security’ company Leonardo. ![]()
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