Leigh ClarkeWorks

The starting point of this body of work was the documentary media coverage of the Michael Jackson trial for alleged child abuse which took place concurrently with coverage of the Iraq war. It highlights some of the problems of media coverage, particularly the public’s insatiable interest in celebrities which contrasts with the public’s right to know about major events such as wars. ‘Save the Kidz’ draws attention to the workings of the media but it neither endorses nor denounces Jackson. Research indicated that Jackson’s reputation had transformed from the King of Pop to a child abuser and possibly paedophile. Reworked images of Jackson as a boy (‘Ben’ 1972), over-printed with the ‘Save the Kidz’ slogan was intended to trigger a range of associations when seen in a public gallery, including the sense of Jackson’s own lost innocence. The piece was made so that it would have high visual impact across two rows of nine images, printed in black and white with the slogan in red. Points of visual reference include Warhol’s celebrity series and, in a different register, the posters of Lech Walensa’s Solidarność workers movement. The work was exhibited in Très Riches Heures, comprising three group exhibitions (London, Brussels and Breda) curated by the artist, 2006.

Acrylic, spray paint and screen-print on canvas 2005

6 mono-prints on paper 2006

Exhibited at LOKAAL01, Breda, Holland.

18 monoprints on paper 2006

Exhibited at le Beau d'arts Contemporien, Brussels.

Screen -print on wall 2006

Exhibited at Keith Talent Gallery, London

Frieze Art Fair, Resonance FM Stand, curated by Bob and Roberta Smith 2007

Curated by Leigh Clarke, the exhibition existed in three cities simultaneously 2006