Oil Art
Ahhhh.
There really is nothing like a large scale environmental disaster to stoke the embers of creativity.
This week, as protesters against BP’s partnership with London’s TATE Modern spill symbolic crude molasses on the steps of the gallery, I thought what better time to showcase the oil-related protest art that seems to be popping up everywhere.
Looking at these (and trust me, there are many, many more), I found myself jumping on the BP-hate bandwagon. Yeah! Those bastards!
But then I thought, wait a minute. I drive a car. I like driving my car. And whilst I turn off lights when I leave the room, don’t leave fans on all night in the summer, and try not to spend too long in the shower, I am just as reliant on BP, and companies like them, as anyone.
It’s very easy for everyone to sit back and angrily point the finger at an oil company that has made a terrible mess and caused extreme damage to an entire ecosystem/coastline/vast section of the world, BUT at the end of the day that oil company was bringing you the oil you need to live your life they way you like it.
I’m not defending them, but if BP is responsible, so are we.
Maybe that’s why everyone is so busy pointing the finger. It’s easier than self-loathing.
But this blog isn’t about the environment.
The TATE protesters were protesting about the financial relationship between BP and the gallery. They want ties to be cut in response to the spill.
BP, in fact, is quite a major sponsor of arts right around the world.
James MacMillan from the Telegraph makes the point, however, that whilst artists like to dissociate themselves from things as crude (pun intended) and capitalist as oil, they’re more than happy to receive the funding that these things bring. When it suits them.
I guess we’re all a little guilty.
Makes for interesting art, but.
