Civilisation Collage, Page 329: humanitarianism, the greatest civilising achievement of the nineteenth century
Civilisation Collage, Page 329: humanitarianism, the greatest civilising achievement of the nineteenth century
One-of-a-kind, original artwork, 2025
24.5 x 17cm
Paper, PVA, thread
Hand-stitched collage, intended for my recent exhibition at the Barbican Library in London, but unfinished at the time of installation. I used discarded magazines and the book ‘Civilisation’ by Kenneth Clark. First published by John Murray/BBC in 1969, this edition printed in 1971. Bought for 50p from a charity shop.
That’s the book to accompany the ancient TV series, responsible for my questionable early art education (didn’t include female artists). I turned each page (along with old museum magazines, and the like) into a collage.
The crown is the off-cuts from another collage. It is the background of the photograph of Leigh Bowery dressed as a Christmas pudding for one of a series of cards produced in 1987 (Get Started Cards, 23 Beak St, London). Photo by Johnny Rozza, styling by Clive Ross. Cut from Tate Etc, Winter 2024, Issue 64. The face (cut from ‘Tate Exhibition Highlights 2023 - 24’) is Marianne von Werefin by Gabriele Münter, 1909 (Lenbachhause Munich).
The artwork title comes directly from Clark’s text.
Price includes UK postage, and a 5% donation to Arts Emergency.
Copyright: Alison Aye, 2025.