Book art - last chance to see the 'Re-Imagining the Laws of England the Wales exhibition - now at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre

Last chance to see this exhibition

 
My artist's book 'War and Emergency' has been touring for over two years across the UK as part of the 'Re-Imagining the Laws of England and Wales' exhibition and its final exhibition is now underway at the Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre from 5 September-24 November 2017.  
A set of volumes of the Halsbury's Statutes, the accepted authoritative texts for statute law (Acts of Parliament) of England and Wales was donated to the Sidney Nolan Trust and each of these has been transformed by artists across the country into a work of art exploring themes related to the topics covered in their volume. http://www.sidneynolantrust.org/events-programmes/whats-on/re-imagining-the-laws-of-england-wales

Changing the Laws of England - an exhibition of altered book art at the Sidney Nolan Trust, Presteigne - opening 15 June

Halsbury Statutes – ‘War and Emergency’, Volume 500

In the case of a declaration of war or a national emergency, laws and ‘due process’ can be suspended in the interests of maintaining the safety of the realm. This could involve what would otherwise be considered infringements of personal liberty, such as imprisonment without charge.

The Magna Carta has become a great symbol of personal liberty and an important landmark for the idea of protecting people from illegal imprisonment and providing access to justice.  However, the proposed transfer of power away from the monarch to the barons in 1215 was to apply only to nobles not to ordinary people! 

In my volume, I have scarred and bloodied the surface of the pages to symbolise the effects of war.  The shredded statutes represent the suspension, or tearing up, of laws.

The exhibition opens on 15th June 2015 at the Rodd, Sidney Nolan Trust, Presteigne.

 

http://www.sidneynolantrust.org/whats-on/gallery/re-imagining-the-laws-of-england