BBC Radio 4 Extra

Art Attack

Art Attack: Episode 2

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Art Attack, Episode 2

Lawrence Pollard explores attacks on contemporary art.

Lawrence Pollard explores some of the more bizarre assaults in contemporary art, including an exploding shed. From November 2009.

An assault on the Mona Lisa with a teacup raises the question, why do people attack art? In two programmes the art historians and broadcasters Tim Marlow (programme one) and Lawrence Pollard (programme two) investigate centuries of attacks on art works from the earliest times to the present day. Charting the reasons why and telling the stories of some of the most sensational and provocative attacks, they explore how the wilful destruction of art is as old as art itself and how it shows no signs of stopping. Statues are demolished in the name of religion, photographs doctored for political reasons, paintings are slashed and protestors even urinate on art works. Art is attacked so that the power of a particular work is nullified, in order to eradicate the art's subject from the face of the earth, as a publicity seeking stunt and even - and increasingly - to make an artistic comment on the existing artwork. Do these attacks have anything in common? Can art be made by breaking existing art? Why are art attacks continuing? 

Programme 2 -
Lawrence Pollard investigates some of the more bizarre assaults on contemporary art including attacks on Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' which has been both urinated on and whacked with a hammer. In this age of anti-art, it is increasingly common for vandals to claim their actions as 'art'.

Lawrence also visits the Tate Liverpool for their 'Joyous Machines' exhibition which features the work of Jean Tinguely - one of the most radical, inventive and subversive sculptors of the mid twentieth-century. Discussing his work with Lawrence is Michael Landy, artist and co-curator of the exhibition whose own work has been influenced by the artist and his constructive and destructive tendencies. In 'Break Down' (2001) Landy catalogued and destroyed every single one of his possessions from his birth certificate to his car.

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Series investigating attacks on art works, from the earliest times to the present day

Series investigating the history of attacks on art works, from the earliest times to the present day

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Art Attack

Episode 2

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra