[tweetmeme] British have a very particular humour indeed. For those of you who’ve lived in England (not being Brits) they’ve probably taken the piss out of you several times. They just laugh keeping the composure and although foreigners don’t notice… they’re rude.
A trip through the satirical Brit art from the XVII century to today… from William Hogarth’s paintings to the famous puppet show “Spitting Image”.
Gerald Scarfe (Sunday Times’ political cartoonist for the past 4 decades) has designed himself the space dedicated to the political satire in this exhibition. He’s always thought of politicians as not very intelligent people and believes this kind of critical humor to be healthy. From Churchill to Thatcher … they’ve all being easy preys .. “those arrogant enough to become our leaders are there to be questioned”. You’re couldn’t be more right mr Scarfe.
Put together with some the country’s best-known cartoonists and comedy writers, this exhibition explores British comic art from the 1600s to the present day. Bringing together a wide array of paintings, sculptures, film and photography, as well as graphic art and comic books, the exhibition celebrates a rich history of cartooning and visual jokes.
Looking at comedy that is both timeless and of-its-time, Rude Britannia contrasts contemporary artists such as Angus Fairhurst with key historical pieces, and covers everything from Hogarth to the YBAs. You’ll see the work of top British artists past and present at Rude Britannia, including:
Sarah Lucas
Aubrey Beardsley
Donald McGill
Edward Lear
David Shrigley
Hogarth
Gerald Scarfe
Rebecca Warren
Gillray
Cruikshank
Although the exhibition tries at the same time to make justice to all those ignored artists: the caricaturists. They’ve never being paid, considered or grabbed the same attention as any other artist. It’s easier to be the latter…. you don’t have to find a joke for each of your works. GO and have a laugh … the British way.
Rude Britannia: British Comic Art is at Tate Britain (020 7887 8825) from 9 June to 5 September 2010. Plus… a series of three BBC4 programmes, Rude Britannia, will begin on 14 June.
