Little Whitehead
Littlewhitehead isn’t a new acne cream or a lovely spot on the coast, it’s actually the dynamic Scottish arts duo Craig Little and Blake Whitehead. They’re two guys in their 20′s who decided that if Damien Hirst can piss off the establishment they can do it to, but only a lot more cheaply. If you’re a fan of post modern art be prepared to get your metaphorical hands dirty. Little Whitehead first shot to fame when they decided to deep fry a 200 year old bible and of course were launched on a wave of protest by a selection of irate Christian groups around the world. They’ve also been condemned by a well known road safety group when in 2008 they exhibited an installation of a car crash complete with a recording of the emergency call sounding out from the boot.
It doesn’t stop there… in that same year at the Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition in Liverpool, two of their works, ‘It All Depends On One’s Fantasies As A Child’ (plaster-cast figures which look like mutilated dead bodies left to rot in a pile) and ‘It Happened In The Corner’ … (a group of hooded men and women standing and staring into a corner) were vandalised by students. No idea why, jealousy most likely, whatever the reason, every attack on Little Whitehead only helps to increase their notoriety in the world of the arts.
Ironically LW aren’t after a fight, they merely want to spark debate, and considering it’s been more than a few years since this country had a revolution, and the majority aren’t exactly blessed with the ability for a cogent argument, it’s no surprise they’ve received the reaction they have. As my old art tutor Roy Grayson used to say, it’s not just about concept, the object should be, on some level, desirable. Which means, until their choice of materials becomes a little more sumptuous they will for the foreseeable future be under critical and physical attack with little protection from the money men and the ‘mediarati‘.
Still, I love what these lads are doing, it’s ugly, it’s honest, and it upsets the immoral majority. What’s more it’s funny, I mean, they’re no Monty Python, but even raising a chuckle in an art gallery is tantamount to a riot as far as I am concerned. Gawd bless those brave lads, may they subversively continue to do the country proud…
A ticket for a ticket - performance for Trolley Books 2010
The Thing (200 year old bible, battered and deep fat fried) 2010
The Philanthropist (mixed media sculpture) 2010
Spam (mixed media sculpture) 2010
Sentient Orbs (mixed media installation) 2009
Trouble in Arcadia (Obituary posted in the Glasgow Herald on the 5th January) 2010
They’re a great little piece on Little Whitehead by the Scottish Herald here.
this is what I love about your post “I love what these lads are doing, it’s ugly, it’s honest, and it upsets the immoral majority.” — very empowering!
.-= ´s last blog ..Pork Liempo at Kusina ni Nasing in Cebu City =-.
Cheers Jasmine – thx for the comment ;)
They have the courage to upset the apple cart of complacency. It’s not MY style, but I’m glad SOME people do it!
Sure do :D Thanks for the comment Lynda!
Jai utilisé leur installation pour illustrer un de mes sujets d’art sur l’exclusion sociale, le prof a beaucoup apprécié et peu connaissais se groupe absolument geniale, leur oeuvre sont si genantes, destabilisantes, derengantes, j’adore ! (I’ve used their work to illustrate one of my art on topics of social exclusion, the teacher was very appreciative and knew little about them – awesome and their work is so annoying, destabilizing, degenerate I love it!)
Thank Gawd for Google Translate – I failed French at school :/ Thanks for the comment :D
Im glad i found this site. I saw some of the work at the saatchi and it inspired me. Im currently looking at stereotypes of youth and the’It happened in the corner…’ piece is my favourite and helped me alot with my artwork. i love these rebels :)