Father's fury at 'disgusting' artwork on show at Folkestone gallery
A PAINTING on display in Folkestone has been criticised as disrespectful by a father whose son served in the Royal Air Force.
Colin Plummer, caretaker of a building opposite Georges House Gallery in the Old High Street, could not believe his eyes last week when he walked past the art gallery, which is currently showing an exhibition entitled I Am A Poem.
-
Colin Plummer and son Mark are not happy with the painting exhibited at Strange Cargo gallery in the Old High Street in Folkestone
In the window was a large painting of a Union Flag bearing the slogan "Support The Troops: Start Another War", which he believes is in bad taste.
Mr Plummer, whose son Mark served as an airman in the RAF, said: "I couldn't believe it, it's so disrespectful I have no words.
"Considering what's happening in Afghanistan and other places is it really acceptable to put that up now?
"When I walked past and saw it the first time I just stopped and stared. I thought could they really be saying this? Our troops are dying over there.
"I know some people might see it as trivial but I think it's worth arguing over.
"It's disgusting."
Mr Plummer's thoughts were echoed by his son Mark when his father told him about the poster later on the same day.
Artist Vince Laws, who is also a former serviceman, having served in the Army after school, defended his work, saying: "I am a protest artist – if people didn't react I'd be concerned.
"When we had troops in Iraq there were people who said we should pull them out. Then there was a backlash saying it was unpatriotic to say things like that when we were still at war. My exhibition is a reaction against those people, not servicemen themselves.
"This work has provoked a strong reaction in the past. In Norwich it was torn down and another was stolen."
A spokesman for Strange Cargo said: "We totally support the artists in our gallery."
3 Comments
by mcmikerg
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 12:51PM
“The work of art is obviously intended as an ironic comment on war in general - as the artist himself says, a protest comment. If Mr Plummer and his son don't like this piece, that's their business and they're entitled to their opinion. However, I don't really think that a couple of local geezers suffering from sense-of-irony-failure should be front page news in the local paper, do you?”
by markwaghorn
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:17PM
“As an artist - and for three years an officer of the Welsh Guards - I support Mr Plummer. A slogan isn't art. Causing offence isn't art. If Mr Laws had been in my platoon, he would have been given the old "doughnut and broomstick" punishment.”
by RickDeckard
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:30PM
“I think it's fair enough and this is what people are fighing for surely? the right of people to express themselves?”