Gilbert and George

Gilbert and George

Gilbert and George can be considered ‘Pop artists.’ This is best exemplified in their own motto ‘Art for all.’ Gilbert Prousch was born in Italy and George Passmore in Plymoth. They met in 1967 while studying sculpture at Saint Martin’s School of Art. They are most well-known in recent years for their work using photographs and digitalised media. There first work together was ‘the singing sculpture’ which involved them dressing up as’ living sculptures’ and singing. They then moved on to drawing, ‘postal art’ and ‘writing art’ and video (see link below).’ In-keeping with the original idea of them being living sculptures, they use their own image in many of their works.

 http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/gilbert-and-george-world-gilbert-george

Gilbert and George feel very strongly about art being available to everybody. The imagery and symbolism in their work is clear and recognisable; for example, the union jack, the religious imagery, then urban landscape and even the use of human excrement. The language of their art is taken from the world around them so that it can be universally recognised and appreciated by all.

They have lived in the same house in East London for many years and most of their images and subjects are taken from the area in which they live. The artists have spoken about being especially inspired by the mixture of religions around them. ‘Up and down Brick Lane you see this amazing confrontation between East and West, the Muslims and the Christians, on every lamp post, stickers day and night, it's extraordinary.  This battle of religions... religious feelings.’

George was born a Catholic and Gilbert a Methodist and religion has been a constant theme in their works. As two gay men, Christianity would not be traditionally approving of their way of life. This struggle to come to terms with this attitude and what it means to them is played out in the story of their works. It seems that creating the art is a cathartic experience for Gilbert and George, a way of liberating themselves; ‘We don't think that we're free and we're helping the audience, we feel that together with the viewer we're doing it, we're walking down life's road hand in hand with the viewer’ Viewing the painting, you feel as though you are being presented with a question, rather than an answer.

In recent works such as the Jack Freak pictures, the pieces were digitally made, with other material and photographs scanned in, manipulated, layered over each other and coloured by hand. The colour pallet used by the artists consists of mainly black and white with flashes of bold primary colours, reminiscent of religious stained glass. The layout of the pictures, with panels framed by black borders is also in keeping with this. This makes the ever-present theme of religion in the work all the more clear,

In their work ‘Burn in Hell, 2008’ the artists are seen with twisted, contorted faces on a bright red back ground ostensibly ‘burning in hell’ Is this what religion thinks of the or how they think of themselves.?

In the work ‘Shitty’ from the Naked Shit Pictures, 1994 the crucifix is made of human excrement and the artists stand either side of it looking imploringly out as ‘the thieves on either side of Christ.’ In the corners you see naked images of the selves falling ‘from grace’ in to a red background that appears hellish. The title of the picture and the imagery are shocking and force the viewer to think of the negative connotations with religion.

The art of Gilbert and George has long been considered controversial because of the explicit language, imagery and possible negative connotations with religion. It is not comfortable viewing but definitely forces you to think on the topics they depict and raises some important issues. I like the clear and universal language of their art and plan to use this in my own work.