'Brit Art' Bid To Define Britishness
2 June 2010
Gavin Rogers with the Union Jack covered Rover 100 car he used to tour the country for his film and some of the many outfits Gavin has worn while dressing in only red, white and blue
A search to answer the question of 'what is Britishness?' led one determined art student to cross the country in his Union Jack decorated car to ask the public what they thought - while wearing nothing but red, white and blue for a year.
Gavin Rogers, 21, is about to complete his BA (Hons) Fine Art degree at the University of Derby. His final year degree show, which goes on public display at the University's site in Markeaton Street, Derby, from tomorrow(ThursdayJune 3) explores the ideas of patriotism and Britishness.
As part of this Gavin has:
- dressed in red, white and blue everyday since the beginning of this academic year (October 2009);
- driven a Rover Metro he decked out himself with Union Jack details;
- used this to travel around filming people's views on what they thought summed up the best and worst about Britain;
- hand-painted 2,000 2p coins in Union Jack colours, spelling out 'God? Save the Queen?' with them.
Gavin, originally from Burton-on-Trent, said: "What attracted me to the project was that, at the beginning of it, I didn't understand Britishness and patriotism myself. What did it mean to be British in the modern age? What did people think it meant?"
He deliberately chose a blue Rover 100 car - a discontinued model made by a British car company which closed in 2005 - and then modified the paintwork using the imagery of the Union Jack. He also committed to wearing just red, white and blue coloured clothes himself.
On his trips to Blackpool and Matlock, the first of many places he intends to visit in the UK to film, he asked people questions about what they liked and disliked about Britain, what they would change if they were in charge, their favourite foods and which football teams they supported?
The initial ten minute cut of Gavin's film will be publicly screened on continuous loop in a traditional candy-striped beach hut type tent at the University's site in Markeaton Street, Derby, from tomorrow,Thursday June 3 until June 12; as part of the University of Derby's Degree Shows. He signs his artistic work as 'Gavin JR' (for Gavin John Rogers).
People will also be able to see both his colourful Rover Metro car and collection of coins. The latter's message of 'God? Save the Queen?' underlines, with its question marks, that UK institutions such as the Crown and Church can be much less important to people now than they were a century or more ago.
Gavin added: "I think if I've come to any conclusions about the qualities of British people from my project, it's that they all have a streak of humour in them and that everybody likes a good moan too."
His film can also be seen through his website www.gavin-jr.co.uk.
Denis O'Connor, Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Fine Art, said: "Gavin's work incorporates live art, video, installation, sculpture and design; demonstrating what is good about Fine Art practice at Derby.
"He has through his degree exhibition innovatively responded to visually enhancing the University's Art, Design and Technology building through a series of dynamic visual instillations. I applaude his efforts to make the ordinary into something which is both intriguing and challenging."
Gavin's work will be displayed alongside that of many other students' as part of the University of Derby's annual Degree Shows, running from June 3 to 13.
Other subject areas students will be exhibiting in include fashion, photography, computer games, film and video, crafts, music technology, product design, textiles, art therapy, architectural design; and sound, light and event technology.
For more information about the University of Derby's annual Degree Shows see website www.derby.ac.uk/degreeshow.
For further media information please Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
