October 4, 2018 – Ian Hislop has been on a mission to find stories of dissent, subversion and satire hidden within the vast collections of the British Museum, for a new exhibition this autumn. The Citi exhibition I object: Ian Hislop’s search for dissent sees the journalist, historian and broadcaster showcase over 100 objects that challenge the official version of events and defy established narratives. With items spanning three millennia – from ancient Mesopotamia in 1300BC to the 2016 Presidential election – the exhibition demonstrates that humans have always subverted concepts of authority.
Ian Hislop in the British Museum’s Prints and Drawings Study Room. J.Fernandes/D.Hubbard © Trustees of the British Museum.
As guest-curator, all objects in the exhibition have been hand-picked by Ian, ably assisted by British Museum curator Tom Hockenhull. Ian’s diverse and eclectic choices are drawn from across the British Museum’s collection and from all corners of the globe, and include everyday items alongside finely crafted works of art. Many are on display for the first time and together are evidence for the power of objects and their potential to carry messages about histories and stories that go against the mainstream.
Edward VII penny, 1903, defaced with the slogan “Votes for Women”. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Some objects in the exhibition are obvious in their messaging, such as an Edwardian coin that has been defaced with the slogan ‘Votes for Women’ by a suffragette, or the 18th Century satirical British prints showing George, Prince of Wales, the future King George IV, as an obese and uncouth man with a love of banqueting, booze and women. But many other objects in the show convey a concealed meaning, often because they have been produced in environments where dissent is dangerous.
Stonyhurst Salt, silver-gilt and rock crystal, 1577-1578. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Examples of these include an ornate silver-gilt salt cellar made during the English Reformation which conceals Catholic religious imagery, in defiance of Protestant legislation at the time; a raffia cloth from Democratic Republic of Congo which subverts the image of a leaping leopard, symbol of Zaire’s military dictator Mobutu Sese Seko; and an innocuous painting of two owls, created by an artist in response the persecution they suffered after their previous work of a single winking owl was interpreted as a harbinger of doom by the monitors of Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China.
Oil lamp featuring a female thought to be Cleopatra, Roman, 1st century AD, terracotta. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Alongside these are also objects which test the boundaries of permissible dissent, such as a Roman oil lamp depicting a female having intercourse with a crocodile which was possibly propaganda directed against Queen Cleopatra, while a papier-ma?che? skeleton of a factory owner shows the public mockery of authority figures is permitted during Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival.
Banksy (born 1974), Peckham Rock, UK, 2005. This object was secretly placed in a gallery at the British Museum by the artist in 2005 and was undiscovered for three days. © Banksy courtesy of Pest Control Office.
The Museum itself doesn’t avoid censure, as a highlight of the exhibition is an artwork by Banksy which was secretly ‘installed’ by the artist in the Museum in 2005. The hoax piece, called Peckham Rock, returns to the Museum on loan, 13 years after being placed in one of the galleries by the anonymous graffiti-artist and lying undiscovered for three days alongside its mock information label. It was returned to Banksy shortly after its discovery, but after having featured in the artist’s exhibitions in London and Bristol, it’s back on display at its original home for this exhibition – this time with the Museum’s permission.
Pink Hat (Pussyhat), USA, 2017, knitted wool. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Also on display are items of dissent from contemporary movements and events which have dominated headlines around the world. One of the most well-known is a pink knitted ‘pussyhat’ – newly acquired by the British Museum for this exhibition – which was worn at the Washington DC Women’s March on 21 January 2017 in protest against the policies of newly-elected President Trump.
Ian Hislop, special-guest curator, says: “This is a fresh look at the collection that turns up a treasure trove of dissent in the midst of the conformity. At first sight the British Museum seems to be a reinforcement, if not a celebration, of authority – of history’s rulers and their artefacts. But from ancient civilisations through to our own, there are extraordinary objects that bear witness to someone questioning the authorised version of their times and deciding to make a small though often lasting protest”.
The exhibition was preceded by a three-part podcast of the same name on BBC Radio 4. Presented by Ian Hislop and broadcast in August 2018, the series included objects featured in the exhibition and expanded on some of the narrative themes.
The British Museum also offers „A bluffer’s guide to dissent in 7 objects“ that already offers a first glimpse of some of the fascinating objects.
More information on this exhibition is available on the British Museum website.