Do all the ‘real’ artists work in advertising, not in the fine arts? While the Turner Prize may incite cries of ‘Is that art?’ from critics, the former question is sure to raise the hackles of those more inclined to exhibit pickled sheep and unmade beds strewn with condoms.
This vexed question is actually a debate topic – the latest offering in a series of controversial debates from Intelligence². The brainchild of John Gordon, founder of media monitoring company Xtreme Information, and Jeremy O’Gray, Editor-in-chief of The Week, Intelligence² is a new organisation staging debates on current topics of controversy featuring prominent speakers.
Art critic Brian Sewell will find himself on the other side of his fine art fence tomorrow night when he teams up with advertising Creative Director John Hegarty (Bartle Bogle Hegarty) to argue in favour of the motion. Karen Wright, Editor of Modern Painting, will join them.
Arguing against will be former Art Review Editor, David Lee, (now Editor of his own artworld mag, The Jackdaw), photographer Alison Jackson, and Nicholas Bagshawe, an art historian and lecturer.
In a statement from Intelligence², the organisers suggested it was more likely that advertising would be the focus of future anthropological studies aiming to gain an understanding of our times, rather than fine art.
‘If art’s function is to reflect and inspire, then advertising is performing that role more effectively that fine art,’ the statement said. ‘From running shoes to children’s parties, advertising captures the hopes, aspirations and concerns of the world we live in. Five hundred years from now, anthropologists will look to advertising, not pickled sheep, to gain a true understanding of where are going,’ the organisers said, referring to Brit artist Damian Hirst’s fascination with preserving animals.
Launched in autumn 2002, Intelligence² debates have seen Jonathan Freedland and Jamie Rubin argue whether the time is ripe for an Arab-Israeli resolution in the Middle East; while the debate ‘Anyone who visits a psychotherapist needs their head examined’ caused a week-long row after it was previewed by Anne Atkins on Today.
An upcoming debate on April 24 promises to be no less controversial. Entitled ‘The problem with this country is the Daily Mail’, the debate will feature Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee arguing in favour of the motion, while PR consultant – and purveyor of scandal to the tabloids – Max Clifford, as well as Peter Oborne (of the Spectator), will oppose.
The debates will be held at the Ondaatje Theatre at the Royal Geographic Society in London’s Kensington Gore.
DATE: April 3
TIME: 6.45-8.30pm
VENUE: Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
TICKETS: £20 Ph:020 7494 3345
MORE INFO: www.intelligencesquared.com
