The Peace and Love Tank

A new sculpture created by artist Ian Kirkpatrick and young people from The Cupboard project in Leeds has been installed in the foyer of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, as part of A Graphic War.

A Graphic War is a new city-wide contemporary art project examining the First World War through the lens of its graphic design outputs. This collaboration between Leeds Museums and Galleries and sculptor Ian Kirkpatrick explores the many ways in which graphic design influenced life and thought at home and on the front lines. Curated by Lucy Moore (Projects Curator; First World War), A Graphic War can be seen in various locations in Leeds during November 2015 as part of a city-wide sculpture trail. This new body of artwork from Ian Kirkpatrick investigates the Leeds Museums and Galleries First World War collections and seeks to uncover the underlying mythologies, anxieties and fears they reveal about life in Leeds during wartime.

As part of A Graphic War, Leeds Museums and Galleries worked with The Cupboard project in South Leeds to research propaganda during the First World War. Members of The Cupboard wanted to create their own ‘Kirkpatrick’ artwork, to complement the four sculptures dotted around the city, and chose a Mark IV tank as the subject. The group decorated the tank in a 1960s ‘peace and love’ style, inspired by the pop-art references that Ian uses in his work already.

This fifth sculpture has been installed in the foyer of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds (Old Mining Building, Woodhouse Lane) where it can be seen by the public throughout November.

Dr Claudia Sternberg, who leads the Culture and the Arts strand of the Legacies of War project based at the University of Leeds, said: "After our successful collaboration with Leeds Art Gallery and University Artist in Residence Juliet MacDonald earlier this year, we now wanted to support the city's Leverhulme residency. The opportunity arose when young people from South Leeds worked with Ian Kirkpatrick and needed a place to show their 3D response. Having their work on display in the School extends Ian's sculpture trail to the University; it is also an invitation for members of The Cupboard to come and see our fine artists at work."

More information about A Graphic War can be found here.

Lucy Moore will be speaking about A Graphic War at an upcoming Heritage Show + Tell event on 8 December, organised by the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage. See here for details.

Images from top:
The Peace and Love Tank ©Leeds Museums & Galleries
A Graphic War team members, including Janine, Sophie and Laura from The Cupboard pose with their ‘Peace & Love' tank ©Leeds Museums & Galleries