Somerset House is set to host Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules, an exclusive exhibition that celebrates the longest-running weekly comic mixed with mischief, mayhem and fun and it’s happening this October! Beano has always been a no holds barred kind of comic within its pages and that’s what visitors to this exhibition should expect. Set to be a show like no other, Somerset house is gearing up for what seems to be an exhibition of a lifetime.
Highlights :
- Alex Wheatle, who is a young fiction writer and subject of an episode of small axe remembers how reading beano became his safe space as a young boy growing up in Shirley Oaks children’s home in Surrey.
- Dennis the menace gets reimagined 70 years on from when he was first introduced to us. Artists Nicola Lane reimagines the iconic character at the age of 70.
- Peter Liversidge, the artist behind the patchwork banners that paid respect to Key workers in East London last year, offers a participatory workplace where visitors may abandon old world order and pick a new rule for life, which will be painted into a protest sign live in the show.
- Visitors may pick the soundtrack to the performance from a jukebox packed with music influenced by Beano’s rebellious spirit, curated by Bob Stanley of indie dance band Saint Etienne.
- A new catapult game allows viewers to take (virtual) aim at some of the world’s most famous works of art.
A diverse mix of contemporary artworks from today’s top creative rule-breakers will be shown with never-before-seen original artwork from Beano’s archive.
What makes this show so special is the mix and level of contributors that have all come together to help create this. Contributions from artists such as Alex Wheatle, who was recently featured on BBC’s Small Axe, as well as Phyllida Barlow, Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed, comedian and pop star Chris Sievey to mention just a few. They will be joined by a long list of other artists, including those that have already been announced, such as Sarah Lucas, Bedwyr Williams, Hardeep Pandhal and Heather Phillipson.
It is rare to get so many different artists to come together like this, but the beautiful reason for this is that they have all been inspired by the antics of the heroes of Beano, these artists have all been brought together due to their rebelliousness and playfulness. This comes through in a different way for each artist in their work, which will be showcased next to original artworks from the Beano archive. This is set to be an unconventional exhibition with unconventional content.
Andy Holden, lifelong Beano fan and curator of Beano: The art of breaking the rules provides the exhibition with a glimpse at some never-before-seen original comic artwork drawn from over 4,000 of its publications. This will be accompanied by some unique Beano artefacts dating back to Beano’s 83-year run. Original artwork and artefacts will include the whole Beano crew, including Dennis and Gnasher, Bananaman, and the Bash Street Kids, to mention a few – this will also transition into an introduction of the artists of Beano who bring the drawings to life, such as Leo Baxendale, the person who brought Minnie The Mix, and Laura Howell, who is in charge of drawing the all-around rebel today.
For those who make it to Somerset House, they’ll have the chance to visit Beano Town! Artists have given those who visit somerset house the chance to experience Beano town with a larger than life recreation of the most iconic backdrop’s featured in Beano, it will be as if you were stepping into the pages of Beano itself! So visitors have the chance to hang off Bash Street School and all the other iconic places in Beanotown. While visitors meander around the town, they’ll come across an electric collection of contemporary artworks from today’s biggest and badest rulebreakers.
Visitors will also get a chance to preview some never before released work by Beryl Cook, who is a painter and illustrator of the Rufus the Rat children’s book, as well as some other specifically commissioned works from other artists.
The exciting thing about a gathering of artists like this is the variety of opinions visitors will be exposed to. There will be contemporary artists that will be expressing a very playful of their experience of Beano, and they will explain how they flow into brand-new works, providing fresh perspectives on the comic masterpiece.
Fictional writer and star of the first season of BBC’s Little Axe Alex Wheatle will be telling his own story of his childhood, growing up in Shirley oaks children home in Surrey. Alex is going to talk about his own fascinating life and how through his hardships, reading Beano became his safe space growing up. During the Alex Wheatle episode on BBC’s Small Axe, as he is being driven away from Shirley Oaks as a young adult, he can be seen clutching a stack of comics, his most beloved possessions.
It has also been announced that Artists Nicola Lane will be creating a brand new comic strip specifically for this show. The concept revolves around imagining its most iconic star Dennis at 70-years-old.
Visitors will also be treated to an installation from Leeds artist Simon Barclay who will be presenting a two-way mirror. Barclays two way mirror is inspired by the character Plug from the Bash Street Kids. Barclay has decided to flip the essence of Plug on its head, as Plug is renowned for his vanity, and his belief that he can smash a mirror just by winking at it.
The two-way mirror will show a neon silhouette of Plug, before then flipping to another neon sign saying ‘ugly’ below to which then the visitor can then see their reflection. Simon’s goal is to challenge the visitor on their perceptions of beauty and challenge them to own it just as the character plug does in Beano.
Although all of the artists in this show have been influenced by Beano in some manner, not every contemporary piece of art will include explicit references to Beano.
However, they do all share rebellious sensibility due to the mixture of comedy and subtle social commentary. Themes such as feminism, class, education and art are constantly recurring within Beano, and artists that are featuring try to incorporate this within their pieces of work.
Visitors will be treated to a model of a rare piece by Heather Philipson, and it can be found displayed in the office of the beano editor. The piece, titled THE END which at first glance looks like a seemingly appetising dollop of whipped cream topped with a luscious cherry. As you look closer, you will notice a fly crouching on one side and a drone perched on the other, with the cream melting around the sculpture’s foundation, almost causing it to fall.
Heather uses the normally mundane subject of food to highlight social issues as well as those of class, similar to a new painting by recent RCA graduate Oliva Sterling, who uses a farcical scenario from a children’s tea party to explore identity in modern-day Britain.
There are not many Artists that have pushed the boundaries of social thinking and provocative street art as much as Mark McGowan. Mark is the brain behind many controversial artistic stunts such as attempting to cartwheel from Brighton beach to London to highlight the harm caused to British coastlines by tourists taking stones home, or pushing a peanut across London with his nose in protest of student debt.
Mark will also be joined by Welsh artist Bedwyr Williams who will be unveiling his new series of satirical sideways drawings that focuses on the affections of those that run the ‘Art World’. At the same time Cory Arcangel depiction of Austrian-born composer Arnold Schoenberg’s Three Piano pieces, op.11, which has been edited from YouTube’s Cat piano playing subculture. This is where Cory makes fun of this cultural fetish.
Contemporary artist Peter Liversidge will return at the end of the show to offer an interactive workspace. In the weeks leading up to the opening of the exhibition, Peter will begin the creation of The Rule Book for Life, which will be made with help from children, and will go up on display live at Beano! The Art Of Breaking The Rules. Children will be asked to depict their version of society for visitors to choose from. Visitors will then be asked to choose from which new world order they would most like to live in, to which it will then be painted onto a protest sign by Peter Liversidge.
Visitors may channel their inner rebel by hurling rotten tomatoes at the great (virtual) works of art using the classic Beano weapon, the catapult, and seeing the splats and splots of their destruction.
From apparel, accessories, collectables, and limited edition prints to homewares, games, books, and stationery, the unique exhibition store will showcase an exclusive collection of Beano x Somerset House goods alongside a selection of creative and inspired presents for all ages.
