Gilbert and George
Gilbert; Born – Dolomites, Italy 1942
George; Born – Devon, England 1943
Gilbert and George first met while they were both studying sculpture at St Martin’s school of Art in London in the late 1960s. Since then they have worked as one. Their united activities first came to prominence with their notorious performance pieces as “living” and “singing sculptures”. Dressed in a particular style of suit, without which they are not publicly recognized, they offered themselves as art. In 1969 this meant “performing”, with hands and faces covered in metallic paint, to the song Underneath the Arches, originally by music-hall stars Flanagan and Allan. Photo and video pieces based on the pair gradually becoming drunk on Gordon’s Gin followed. Their conservative appearance adds to the irony of their parodies of British taste and traditions. A narcissistic element is retained in more recent work, which makes overt reference to gay sexuality. Since the early 1970s their photo-pieces, by now large, highly coloured composite “pictures”, such as Fear, appear to take provocation views to extremes. This has often been interpreted as a shocking celebration, rather than criticism, of right-wing, neo-fascist, racist and nationalist activity. Gilbert and George, however, claim to be, “trying to define new morality”.
Masterpieces:
- England
- The Nature of Our Looking
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About gilbert and george
Gilbert & George
Jan Debbaut
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The Complete Postcard Art of Gilbert & George
Gilbert and George
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Gilbert & George
Francois Jonquet
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