Empty plates in Southend (things are about to get very political)

I was researching a post that involved smog and plates (fear not, it's coming), when I came across photos of different plates. These are empty plates left by the people of Southend, a town in southeast England, in front of the local Tory HQ and Conservative Club as a sign of protest after their MP voted against feeding children most at risk of going hungry.

For those who do not live in the UK, earlier this week the Labour party's motion on providing 1.4m disadvantaged children with £15-a-week food vouchers during holidays was voted down. MPs rejected it by 322 votes to 261 with a government majority of 61.

22 year-old footballer Marcus Rashford, once one of those children, has been using his social media platform to campaign hard, already forcing the government to do a u-turn and extend the meal vouchers scheme through the summer. He has now launched a petition, signed by 850k people at the time of writing this, to persuade the government to reconsider their decision.

This is the United Kingdom in 2020. A country governed by corrupt and incompetent politicians who squander billions on dodgy contracts benefitting their peers and donors. A country where almost 4 million children live below the poverty line and cannot afford adequate nutrition. A country where reliance on food banks has surged by 73% in the last 5 years. A country where, in the midst of a global pandemic and recession like no other, Tory MPs choose to turn their back on the most vulnerable.

Anyway, plates. Empty plates. I thought that in all their simplicity and spontaneity they looked very poignant, a bit like a conceptual art installation made by people like you and me so our voice can be heard.

#southend #england #endchildfoodpoverty #foodpoverty #marcusrashford #beyondthecanvasblog

Photo https://twitter.com/ScotteeIsFat

Photo https://twitter.com/AstonALine

Fourteen days to the US Presidential election.

“We are at a precipice in this country, and we are either going to move forward or we are not.” - Carrie Mae Weems

In 2016, nearly half of the eligible US voters opted to forgo one of their fundamental civil rights and did not vote. This means that over 100 million Americans were so irreconcilably disengaged from politics that they could not be bothered to have their say. Worryingly, a whopping 20% of this 100 million is planning to do the same this year. The reason? They are simply not interested and do not care about politics. If you think about it, these 'indifferents' have just as much decision-making power as the other half who does want its voice heard in the political conversation. This very complex and, for me, entirely unfathomable issue is thoroughly explored by the 100 Million Project, a survey that quizzed 13,000 chronic non-voters.

In a bid to counter voter suppression and encourage people to vote in the forthcoming elections, legendary American artist and activist Carrie Mae Weems (of the iconic Kitchen Table Series fame) is once again using her work as a catalyst for social change. Her work and that of 7 other artists, such as Ed Ruscha and Jenny Holzer, is being displayed on 350 digital screens across 16 US cities until Election Day. It is estimated that these billboards will be seen by some 3 million people every day, reaching more than 106 million people throughout the campaign.

Only 2 weeks left, guys. Go register and VOTE.

#election2020 #democracy #whenweallvote #vote #100millionproject #govote #votehimout #yourvotematters #makeyourvotecount #voteblue #carriemaeweems #art #artblog #artblogger #beyondthecanvasblog

A billboard designed by Weems for the “Art for Action” campaign.

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk -Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Iconic, but not frozen in time - a garment that continues to evolve and fascinate. That is the premise of this show that traces the history, transformation and global influence of the Japanese kimono from the 17th century to these days.

Over 300 stunning sartorial masterpieces that show us how the kimono, literally 'the thing to wear', went from everyday outfit in Japan to object of aesthetic inspiration and cultural appropriation in the West. Some of the Western tributes by the likes of Galliano, JP Gaultier and the late Alexander McQueen are particularly striking, but I thought the recent reinterpretations by Japanese designers were the most playful and inventive.

Sanitising gel abounds, but forget about social distancing. The show runs to October 25th and is sold out, so if you don't have a ticket you can always watch the videos of the curator tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEf0iFNTVGw&t=30s

#kimono #kimonokyototocatwalk #japan #japanesefashion #fashion #victoriaandalbert #v&a #london #artblog #artblogger #beyondthecanvasblog

Left: a kimono which belonged to Freddie Mercury

Centre: outfit designed for Madonna by Jean Paul Gaultier in 1999.

Right: kimono designed by Alexander McQueen for Bjork

Galliano for Dior in 2007

A kimono entitled 'Please let others sit comfortably' by Japanese artists Yokoyama Yumiko and Kadowaki Takahiro.

Kimono costumes from the Star Wars movies (none of which I have seen). On the left is the costume for Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness in 1977.

Stunning costumes by Colleen Atwood from Memoirs of a Geisha. What a terrible movie that was.

Years ago in Tokyo I had my (tacky and touristy) kimono moment, too. To this day, the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn.