2016.3
And Anti-War Messages, 2016
2016
Projection
Mp4 video 1920 x 1080px
Colour, no sound
01:43
1-4 September 2016
The Fly Tower, National Theatre, London UK
Fires Modern
was commissioned by Artichoke Trust as part of
Great Fire 350,
commemorating 350 years since the Great Fire of London.

The artwork presents 18 histories from the progressive movement including reference to black history, the history of the women's rights movement, fascism in Britain, racism, murder and contemporary references to social inclusion movements like LGBT+ and modern race equality.

And Anti-War messages
refers to the end of censorship in British theatre. The Theatre Act (1968) ended the Lord Chamberlain's power to censor thetrical productions.

The day after the act became law, the American hippy musical
Hair
opened in the West End complete with on-stage nudity and explicit anti war messages.

This work is significant as part of a legacy of anti-war works that culminate in the explicit anti-war billboard series
Counter Culture Rising
(2020.1.1 - 2020.1.12).