No island of strangers: why I’m using art to unite a fractured nation
Fear of outsiders is the defining issue of our times. But is it actually our own selves we’re scared of? And could art hold the answers? Here, the British Art Show’s curator reveals why he’s exploring our deepest dreams and nightmares
TL;DR
- Fear of 'the stranger,' encompassing immigration and otherness, is identified as a dominant issue in contemporary Britain.
- The British Art Show, subtitled 'A Chorus of Strangers,' uses art to explore national anxieties and the idea of the stranger.
- Historical parallels, such as Tudor England's 'Evil May Day' and Shakespeare's 'Sir Thomas More,' are drawn to contextualize current fears.
- The exhibition suggests art can foster empathy and understanding by presenting complexity and challenging divisive narratives.
- Artists featured in the show explore themes of deindustrialization, masculinity, identity, and collective action in response to societal changes.