Mark Titchner “Cut Us, And Don’t Kill Us” – Bob and Roberta Smith “ART GALLERY CLOSED”
Artist Patrick Brill better known as Bob and Roberta Smith has created a new work for the ‘Save The Arts Campaign. It is supported by over 100 leading British artists against the government’s proposed funding cuts of the arts, which will be announced on the 20th of October. The work shows a sign on an art gallery door with the following text: ART GALLERY CLOSED –SUNDAY-MONDAY-TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY- THURSDAY – ADMISSION £17.50Brill lives and works in London. And is known for artwork that utilizes text often playing on art, politics, and popular culture using materials such as reclaimed wood. Painted with brightly coloured lettering. Other related works by artist Mark Titchner are also unveiled today across two UK cities as part of the campaign. The Turner Prize nominated artist’s work uses direct language in strong political graphic forms. His lead artwork demands ‘DON’T LET THEM DESTROY ANOTHER BRITISH INDUSTRY! 25,000 flyers baring the slogan will also be handed out at Frieze Art Fair in Regents Park this week alongside two billboards featuring Titchner’s ‘Don’t Let Them Destroy’ image and his second work, which, with painful honesty, pleads ‘Cut Us, Don’t Kill Us.’ This will also be placed on the 6x3m billboard on the front façade of Eastside Projects’. Titchner has purposefully pitched the phrase in a city where cuts to major industries over the past decade have had dramatic impact. The artist is also developing a wishing machine to protect the arts organisation for the foreseeable future and which will also be installed on the public façade.Each week the work of a different artist, created in response to the campaign, is being released. The campaign was launched 10 September with a new video by David Shrigley and a campaign poster by Jeremy Deller, Scott King and William Morris. This was followed by new works by Mark Wallinger, Yinka Shonibare and Cornelia Parker. This campaign has had strong backing from the British media and the awareness raising has resulted in over 50,000 signatures to be presented to Downing Street after the official cuts are announced.