Luddites No More
Once again I need to remind you that as we examine Art and Protest you are going to see material that is controversial and does not necessarily represent my opinion or the person sending me material. I have endeavoured not to offend anyone but as Evelyn Beatrice Hall (who used the pseudonym S. G. Tallentyre) wrote in The Friends of Voltaire: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. These words are often misattributed to Voltaire himself but in reality were used by Hall as an illustration of Voltaire's beliefs and are now often cited to describe the principle of the freedom of speech. (Wikipedia)
Anything to Say? is a bronze sculpture and art installation by Italian Davide Dormino which was placed in Berlin's Alexanderplatz on May Day 2015. It features the whistleblowers Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Chelsea Manning standing on three chairs; the entire installation (which includes a fourth, empty chair meant as a platform for public speaking) is to go on a global tour. The installation was unveiled by "ANYTHINGTOSAY," a private art project. In 2016 Davide Dormino was awarded the Prix Éthique 2016 by Anticor for Anything to Say? (Wikipedia) I don't have anything to say. I will leave you to your own thoughts about this issue.
And who was the man featured in the painting yesterday?
Mr William Wilberforce ( 1759 –1833) an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to stop the slave trade. Wilberforce used his speaking voice to great effect in political speeches; the diarist and author James Boswell witnessed Wilberforce's eloquence in the House of Commons and noted, "I saw what seemed a mere shrimp mount upon the table; but as I listened, he grew, and grew, until the shrimp became a whale." during the frequent government changes of 1781–1784, Wilberforce supported his friend Pitt in parliamentary debates. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire (1784–1812). He was independent of party. In 1785, he became an evangelical Christian, which resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for social reform and progress. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. (Wikipedia)
Don't forget to follow Chris Gibson on Twitter where his handle is @gibsonc85 and Instagram where you will find his sketches under leapinggazelleart.