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another perspective on the world cup...

6/24/2014

3 Comments

 
Today marks England's last official day at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, so I thought I'd go ahead and share our first 'guest blog' to mark the occasion. I've personally gotten over my disappointment at the 3 Lions early exit, thanks in large part to the unexpected success of my Team USA. I reckon most England supporters won't feel the same as I do, and the opinions that follow aren't likely to help. Chris Pig is one of the few Englishmen I know who who isn't bothered at all about football. He's more interested in art & culture, thank you very much. He's also busy being one of the best printmakers in the UK, if you ask me. If there was a World Cup for Printmaking, I've no doubt he'd fare better than the current English National Team, who couldn't even score in a brothel.  - Shawn Vinson 

A 'guest blog' from London - by Printmaker Chris Pig:
British Printmaker Chris Pig in his London studioChris Pig in his London studio
Last night I was out at a restaurant with my family to celebrate my partner’s birthday. At the end of the meal the waiter passed me the bill and solicitously said to me “England are losing one nil.” I tried to look as if I cared about this because, after all, he thought he was doing me a favour by supplying me with an update on a football match. I think he thought that, as a man, I would rather be watching the world cup than being out with my family. And that is what annoys me about football, not that people gather together to watch some men play a ball game either in person or on the TV, but that it is assumed that everybody shares their interest. Also a sinister undertone to this is that if you are uninterested in football, you are not patriotic.

We Speak English, etching - "The title alludes to signs on bars on the Spanish costas that proudly proclaim this fact; they might as well add that they don't speak any Spanish." - Chris Pig

Only in the last ten years or so in England has the English flag been reclaimed by football fans from the far right, before that, you rarely saw it outside fascist marches. Being at that time sufficiently enthusiastic to oppose these bastards on the street, I still inwardly wince when I see that flag. The same with the union flag, that too was the domain of the fascists. Herein lies a rich irony, the thing about the English is they are deeply ambivalent about nationalism and flag waving and so the sporting of either flag seems sort of un-English.

One time, another world cup I'm assuming, England were playing Argentina - a match charged with much political enmity. The match was being screened in my pub, much to the locals’ protest, how dare that stuff invade our pub? I happened to be in there with some students who happened to be Spanish, and we happened to be speaking Spanish which is the language the Argentinians speak.

Oh dear. I might have got away with this if it weren't for two personal catastrophes: 
  1. The English lost, and 
  2. Some joker said to some of the England fans “He’s Argentinian”, pointing to me. 
I left not knowing this and made my way to the canal which was my route home. These patriots caught sight of me and followed. English football fans always look the same, fat, pink and shaven-headed like enormous hate-babies. I was quickly surrounded and their ring leader said in a broad cockney accent “Oi mate, are you Argentinian?” I replied in a cockney accent “No, I'm from London”, but anything I could have said at that moment would have made no difference, their blood was up and I was going to suffer. Thanks to the canal I escaped serious injury and was merely pushed into the murky and dangerous water. If the canal hadn’t been there, I might not be here.

The Rosemary Branch, London
The Rosemary Branch, London
satellite picture of Rosemary Branch and canal, London
Satellite view of the Rosemary Branch & the canal

VINSONart uses that flag and it is different. They are using it as an emblem of Britart and cool Britannia; they are reclaiming it from it’s use as an emblem in sixties Carnaby Street and sneery punk irony which is fine.  Shawn Vinson is an American Anglophile as I’m an English Hispanophile which are very different things indeed. I'm mystified by his interest in football but he has never attempted to involve me in that in any way, for which I heartily thank him.

I'm not patriotic, patriotism is stupid. I'm also not a football fan. Football to me is like homosexual pornography; I'm more than happy for it to take place but fervently wish neither to participate or spectate in the process. 

- Chris Pig, June 2014
3 Comments
Kosmo Vinyl link
6/26/2014 10:49:05 am

Ahoy There Chris,

Your post raises some solid questions and your etching is bang on the money !
Only last week in Watchet, Somerset was I discussing the English flag. Like you, for me the flag carries a lot of unwanted baggage, some of it truly horrific - but i find this all the more reason for everyday English people regardless of ethnic background, to take it back. It is only becomes an ultra nationalist/fascist symbol if it is allowed to be one - why should the mass surrender it to a racist minority, who as we all know already have their own flag ? Elvis does not belong to just The Teds and pre-rastafarian reggae is not the property of skinheads. A black shirt no longer represents what it did to my grandmother and I'm glad I like shirts that are black.
I haven't even mentioned football yet, but will leave it here for now. I look forrward to meeting you some time.

Reply
Chris Pig link
7/17/2014 02:31:25 am

Kosmo, but that then opens the can of worms that is patriotism; reclaiming that flag form the fascists merely means that you can be proud to display that flag; what for? I love being English, being on the inside of that humour and creativity, but I'm not proud of it because I didn't do a thing to achieve it. What does it stand for? The corporate identity of the ruling class for all us proles to rally behind so we can go off to kill and be killed to protect their fucking business interests.
I'm not like this normally Kosmo, I'm not even drunk, it just touches a nerve.
As for flags, I fly a big black and red flag every May Day on my studio in my back garden where nobody can see it, which is both hopelessly suburban and very very. English.

Reply
Kosmo Vinyl link
7/18/2014 01:11:53 pm

I hear you loud and clear Chris and I guess we will just have to disagree on this one. But to answer the question what does it stand for - during the World Cup to me it stands for the England Football team and where they come from. The Brazilians can wave theirs, The Ghanians theirs and The English can join in too. Personally I'm a sucker for The Lion Rampant and Tartan in general so I wish Scotland were in it too. As for the ruling class,they have traditionally been opposed to football and I believe prefer their children not to play it. Anyway it's not my intention to "wind you up" and I shall think of you next and your flag next May Day, when I sing the only verse and chorus (I think) of "The Red Flag" and a bit of "The Ballad of John McLean". Take Care !

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  • Shop
  • artists
  • Waddi ATL
  • exhibitions & events
    • Harry Underwood: Outdoor Worship
    • RUTH FRANKLIN: Old and New Dreams
    • Coalescence: SCAD Class of 2022 Senior Exhibition
    • Littles
    • Time Frames: Photography by Jim Alexander and Carlos York >
      • Artist Talk with Jim Alexander and Carlos York
    • Here and Now
    • 3 Southern Artists featuring Harry Underwood
    • 5 ATL Artists Pop Up Show at The WADDI
    • Social Distance Gallery ATL
    • missive - UNG Faculty Show
    • Wood at The Waddi
    • Artist Xie Caomin at Different Trains Gallery 2 at Cornerstone Bank of Decatur
    • Pop-Up Show at 378 featuring The Real Frank Tee and Kim Cresswell
    • Luzene Hill - Now that the Gates of Hell are Closed... >
      • Luzene Hill artist talk
    • Around the Wheel - Color Wheel Teachers Show
    • Best of Atlanta 2019
    • Yehimi Cambrón Pop-Up Show
    • Summer Show 2019
    • Academe of the Oaks Student Exhibition
    • Remembering Marvin Rhodes
    • 378 Clifton Road Pop-Up May 2 2019
    • Ruth Franklin - Only When I Laugh
    • Perspectives: WCAGA Group Exhibit
    • Harry Underwood Red Letter Days >
      • a conversation with artist Harry Underwood
    • The Gallery: Natalie Twigg and Todd Alexander >
      • A Conversation with Natalie Twigg
    • Eben Dunn: Amplification and De-amplification >
      • A Conversation with Atlanta Artists Eben Dunn & Jim Johnson
    • Decaturscapes
    • M.C. Escher +
    • Math + Art
    • Cisco Kid vs Donald Trump >
      • Artist Talk & Tea with Kosmo Vinyl
    • Bank SEE 2.0
    • Through a Glass Darkly
    • Bank SEE
    • Grand Opening and Inaugural Exhibition
  • about
  • contact
  • blog
  • books
  • Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week
  • News
  • Cleared Art Licensing