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Stamps
of Mass Destruction
James Cauty
Microzine, Bold Street
From 4th August 2006
Reviewed by
Will Big Ben blow? Empowering visual questions are rightly (and not before
time) being generated through concomitant object of arts here in Liverpool
city. The Microzine Art Space, Bold Street is at the forefront of this
up-to-the-minute arousing provocation as it welcomes new dawn philatelist
James Cauty.
Founder member of The Orb, The Jamms, The KLF and The K Foundation, Cauty
now rears his vivifyingly artistic head in grand form to exhibit his body
of limited edition printworks that push entrance over worn out popular
ideas and ‘earth angry’ institutions. James has produced a
series of ‘stamps’ of varying shapes, colours, sizes and prices
depicting striking imagery such as the three series ‘5-11’
Gunpowder:Treason:Plot, which parades the bombing of London’s Big
Ben in ‘blockbuster’ austerity. There is a fantastic image
of Her Royal Highness, (better referred to by Cauty as ‘Definitive
Liz’), adorned by a gas mask. Will she be the first to get one on
her face when the button is pushed? She’s further illustrated quite
fetchingly in ‘Full Metal Jacket’ attire.
There are many more extraordinary representations toward a planet ready
for ‘burn up’. The stark quality of this exclusive exhibition
speaks volumes, and if you want some ‘awakening’ stirring
of the old grey matter you would do well to check it over. There’s
a twist in the tale too; the artwork had to be taken down when exhibited
in London because Royal Mail cited infringement of copyright, however
as the story unfolds it is written: ‘Royal Mail have since accepted
the copyright issue, perhaps coming round to Cauty’s way of thinking’.
As James says, “Artists steal or borrow things from other artists
and shops all the time, its part of the evolution of ideas and normal
practice. Copyright was invented by two Belgian lawyers in 1827 as a way
of making some extra cash and is now an outdated concept.”
Get interested -
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