today i passed through gloucester road tube station on the district line. there is a space there given over to artists. the current exhibition is a series of posters called ‘i we it’ by mark titchner.
they contain a series of statements that are thought provoking – make of them what you will. i have added the photos to my photo album ‘art pics’ if you’re interested.
more info on the exhibition is here which says…
In making each work he has extracted a single phrase from the corporate vision of each of the world’s top ten brands, as they were published in a randomly selected week. The statements are utopian, almost evangelical, and propose a model of harmony between mankind, environment, industry and global marketing.
The extracts are combined with the prefix We Want, taken from the ten point plan of an anti-capitalist revolutionary group. Through the addition of these two small words Titchner has transformed statements that imply good intentions into demands that seem almost threatening.
they look good…seems like every one of them has something to say re. the current discussion!
i couldn’t help thinking that too!
#10-Titchner10
In the Art pictures is the most disturbing for me when you think of that in the context of the world wanting to do that.
I at first took this to be anti-Socialist art; illustrating through the use of the Soviet style lettering how sinister phrases like “we want to nurture and protect” really are.
Having learnt that the phrases were taken from corporate statements, with “we want” perhaps disingenuously added, I’m not so sure of the artist’s intentions.
Still, it’s very striking art and a good reminder to be nervous of those who use such phrases!