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Five2Watch: Politics


Axisweb has selected five artworks by contemporary artists which explore or have a theme of politics: Shelagh Atkinson, Joseph Young, nikkita morgan, James Paddock and Amelia Beavis-Harrison


Man of the People, 2001-2005

Shelagh Atkinson

With the 'loudhailer' he addresses the crowd with his political rhetoric - printed in firey red pinks The colour of passion, of energy, of a certain vitalness a MrTommy Sheridan [no blood for oil - against the war campaign] who becomes entangled and ensnared in newspaper scandal and emprisonment

Shelagh Atkinson


The Gentrification Suite, 2014

Joseph Young

"Easy Listening as Art Practice" in my guise as vintage crooner Giuseppe Marinetti - politics meets vintage swing and latin in a radical collage. This suite of five songs (plus a bonus track) accompanies a catalogue printed on 190 gsm uncoated paper.

Produced in a limited edition of 50 plus 5 artist proofs.

"What a GREAT singer Joseph Young (AKA Giuseppe Marinetti) is… we love his new album. Move over Matt Monro." - @Axisweb

Joseph Young


Political Cushions, 2015

Nikkita Morgan

Handmade political cushions.

Nikkita Morgan


Bland, 2016

James Paddock

An artwork about trying something different. I do struggle with why we in the west have not changed the structures of politics: Left, centre and right for some time. We can also be a bit like sheep when it comes to politics and not individually think outside the box. It my might be a personal thing, but, personally I struggle with it.

James Paddock


No New News, 2015

Amelia Beavis-Harrison

The performance explored links between the historic witchcraft trials of the 16th and 17th centuries and todays politics. Five performers, wearing a five person jumper with the houses of parliament on the front, read from a selection of newspapers including The Sun, The Metro, The Times, The Guardian to name a few. The performers found articles that created scapegoats or deviants in society. Commenting on the role that the media plays in portraying people in certain ways the performers changed words in the articles as they read the text out aloud. Names and actions were replaced with with the word 'witch' or 'witchcraft', drawing a parallel between history and the present.

Performed with: Tom Cretney, Dale Fearnley, Laura Mahony, Nick Simpson


Amelia Beavis-Harrison


Published 9 June 2017

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