What you Shoutin 'bout

On Feb 15th 2003 up to 30 million people in cities all over the world marched against a war in Iraq. This was largely under-reported by the mainstream media.

Movements (inc. Anti War, Anti-Capitalist, Global Justice, Environmental) are becoming more organised and on a global level. These movements are often ignored or reduced to a photo opportunity at a protest often focussing on any violence that may have occurred. Rarely are the voices and opinions given any attention.

The protests in Scotland against the G8 (including the Make Poverty History march) were distorted and highjacked by Politicians, celebrities and the media.

George Monbiot and John Pilger have both written about this in recent articles.

At the G8 heavy Police tactics were used (at times) to intimidate and try to silence real dissent. When after provocation, some violence did occur this is of course all we see in the Newspapers. (On the Tuesday July 5th after ‘The Carnival of Full Enjoyment’, six Scottish newspapers all with the same photograph on the front cover.)

Digital media enables people to capture events and create their own media and has enabled a flourishing worldwide ‘Indymedia’ network, which proclaim ‘Don’t hate the media, become the media’. We can follow independant coverage of the G8 protests at Indymedia.org.uk


I am working on an Installation which I am calling "What u shoutin' 'bout". It is a portrait of this movement, showing the voices and opinions behind the placards. It also intends to give hope and say that people power (pref. non violent) is a vital force and can be effective. Too often our media, has the effect of disempowering us and creating fear.

I want the audience to, want to, and be able to, engage with the questions, debate and emotions. I want it to be a piece that inspires people to take action and speak up against injustices.

Picasso spoke about painting as a Weapon...

"No, painting is not made to decorate apartments, it's an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy."
(Tery, Picasso, n'est pas officer dans l'Armee francaise, Les Lettres Francaises, March 24, 1945)

In a time when Violence is too readily used, it’s important we use and celebrate non violent action and ideals.

"What you shoutin 'bout" will be a media arts Installation using multiple TV sets. I will build a collage of video and sound loops from footage and Interviews I have recorded over the past few years. In "What you shoutin' 'bout" the media is reclaimed and taken over by an alternative voice from the streets.

Some of this work will be available online. For now I'm going to use this space to post links and for comment.