Claims of censorship as artworks removed from exhibition

Artists have been forced to take a knife to their own work at a new exhibition, with holes in a number of pieces a clear sign of what they claim is censorship from Bristol City Council.

Just one day after the Anatomy of Solidarity exhibition at M Shed opened to the public, it was roped off and closed with several artworks deemed to be offensive removed.

The art is now back on display but references to Elbit Systems and BAE Systems are no longer present, with the face of Elbit’s UK chief exec Martin Fausset also cut out of one of the pieces.

Bristol City Council say they have an “obligation to ensure we balance freedom of speech and a duty to prevent harm to people and property (and) with this in mind, a decision was taken to refuse permission to display certain items that depict Bristol businesses and people associated with them”.

“Visitors to our exhibition may notice that some of the works have holes in them, some more obvious than others” – photo: Martin Booth

“Visitors to our exhibition may notice that some of the works have holes in them, some more obvious than others,” said Art Against War Club (AAWC) in a statement.

“Regrettably, M Shed requested that we remove the names of specific arms companies, as well as any representations of individuals associated with them.

“In response, we literally took a knife to our art and cut out the ‘offending’ material.

“As artists committed to highlighting Bristol’s deep entanglement with the arms trade, this leaves us asking a critical question: how can we effectively call out the local companies whose weaponry is being used to commit the ultimate crime of genocide, when our public spaces actively prevent us from doing so?”

Bristol City Council made artists remove references to companies and individuals from the exhibition at M Shed – photo: Art Against War Club

AAWC said that they wanted to help create a show “that explores Bristol’s history and current complicity in wars and weapons exports”.

They wanted to use art to “directly confront” Elbit Systems, who have a site in Filton, and say that the content of the show was signed off with the M Shed team “at every stage”.

Artists say that when the exhibition was installed, M Shed’s public programmes manager was present, “who informed us that all pieces had been ‘flagged and cleared’ both verbally and by email with the creative team, and that they were proud to be supporting such ‘important work’”.

And yet within 24 hours of going on display, the exhibition had been roped off, with AAWC that claiming that a member of museum staff told them they were unable to speak with the artists while the issue was being dealt with by Bristol City Council’s legal department.

This artwork with Colston’s head replaced by a quadcopter drone was originally removed but later reinstated – image: Art Against War Club

AAWC’s Jordan Glynn told Bristol24/7: “We understand that a council’s nervous system is wired for compliance – for avoiding risk, avoiding conflict, avoiding being seen as ‘difficult’.

“But we’re not here to perform that obedience.

“Arms companies benefit from a cultural environment of fear and compliance.

“Our work is a daily disobedience practice. We train ourselves and our audiences to tolerate the discomfort of asking: who profits from war in our city?

“We refuse to let fear of corporate displeasure set the limits of what can be said in public space.”

Sam Catford from AAWC added: “We had great communications with the M Shed throughout, with work signed off at every stage.

“The public programmes manager was present and enthusiastic on opening day.

“Our only conclusion can be that once people started engaging in these conversations, someone felt there was too much risk and instead of standing up for the right to discuss these realities in a public forum, they chose to censor our work.”

Artists take a knife to their work to remove references to Filton-based Elbit Systems – photo: Art Against War Club

Anatomy of Solidarity is a community-led project from Seeta Patel Dance, an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation, with the exhibition due to remain on display at M Shed until April 12.

Project manager Katy Noakes said: “Despite goodwill from cultural colleagues at museums to resolve the issues around the temporary closure and removal of artworks, the chain of events and changing decisions has mirrored the obfuscation that often frames our city’s tangled enmeshment with the arms trade that the Art Against War Club exhibits address.

“Although we regret the detrimental impact and distress caused by events on all the city’s communities who took part in the project and contributed to the Anatomy of Solidarity exhibition, we welcome the opportunity these events and the exhibition provide to cast a light upon what often remains unaired.”

Noakes added: “Bristol is a City of Sanctuary. We are also in bed with companies that profit from making the weapons that drive people to seek sanctuary. It’s an issue we can’t continue to ignore.”

Anatomy of Solidarity is a free exhibition at the Window on Bristol Gallery at M Shed – photo: Martin Booth

A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “Museums are spaces where people can encounter new ideas, share experiences and explore the world from different perspectives.

“Our museum programming team works closely with artists and local community groups to give them the opportunity to express themselves and connect with others.

“We are committed to creating environments where diverse voices are welcomed, respected and heard.

“These aims sit alongside our obligation to ensure we balance freedom of speech and a duty to prevent harm to people and property.

“With this in mind, a decision was taken to refuse permission to display certain items that depict Bristol businesses and people associated with them.”

The small reference BAE Systems has now been removed from this comic in the exhibition at M Shed – image: Art Against War Club

Main photo: Martin Booth

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