Keith Haring

I recently watched a documentary about Keith Haring. On that note, take this.

        

This is currently on at the Herbert, in Coventry. If you're in Coventry and you have some time to kill (no pun intended), then this little show is well worth checking out. It features thought-provoking work from some interesting artists. It's all about war, civilians caught up in war, and possibly about reconciliation.

If you like name dropping, there's a John Piper, a Banksy, a Blek Le Rat, a War Boutique, a KennardPhillips, and many, many, many more.

This was actually my first "in the flesh" Banksy, and while it wasn't the life-changing experience I believed it might be, I did enjoy seeing it up close. Although the message of the piece may have been lost on me, as I kept thinking "that's worth HOW MUCH!".

I think there are a couple of pieces from some "bona fide" war artists in there too. You know, people with guns and paintbrushes. The artists that know how to kill you, and as you're dying, paint a really unflattering portrait of you while you're feeling at your worst.

War and conflict is really shit. It thins the herd a bit, but we could do that just by not having so many children. Then we could get rid of war altogether.

Sure, some may call me simplistic, but I haven't got a clue what that means.

Anyway, go and see this show. Enjoy the art. Think about how lucky you are not to be shot at or blown up every day. And then leave a message on the official message board in there. Just try not to get too wound up if you read some of the other messages. You'll see what I mean.

Anyway (again), it's a good show, and even though you might leave there feeling angry, and with an overwhelming need to perform a citizen's arrest on Tony Blair, it's well worth going to.



So there.

I have spoken.

Now I sleep...