Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Page 3 Profile: Paul Cummins, artist

 

Katie Grant
Tuesday 30 December 2014 01:00 GMT
Comments
Paul Cummins, artist
Paul Cummins, artist (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Seeing red over something?

The artist behind the celebrated Tower of London poppy memorial has indicated that snobbery within the art world will prevent it from being nominated for the Turner Prize. Paul Cummins created the major art installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of the Red, along with designer Tom Piper. The project saw 888,246 ceramic poppies planted in the Tower’s moat in the lead up to 11 November. Each poppy represented a British or colonial soldier who died during the conflict.

It certainly won widespread praise…

Sir Peter Bazalgette, chairman of Arts Council England, said the work would be remembered for another 100 years and some have argued it deserves to be nominated for the Turner Prize, the UK’s most publicised art award.

But the artists aren’t holding their breath?

“It is not going to happen,” Mr Cummins said in an interview with The Guardian. “Probably if it had been someone else, yes.” Mr Piper added: “Paul’s ‘a Derby-based artist’ and I’m a theatre designer and ‘not an artist’, although I beg to differ.”

What about the unanimous acclaim?

It was not entirely unanimous, after all. In October, the former Turner Prize judge Jonathan Jones attacked the memorial plans. “War is not noble. A meaningful mass memorial to this horror would not be dignified or pretty…The moat of the Tower should be filled with barbed wire and bones. That would mean something,” the Guardian art critic wrote on his blog. “It would have ended up looking like The Rocky Horror Show if we’d have done what he wanted us to do,” Mr Cummins retorted.

Not the most fitting tribute.

I think I like the one we had.

The duo undoubtedly put their heart and soul into the project. The artistic establishment might turn their noses up but it is predicted both men will feature in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. An estimated £10m has been raised for charity from the sale of the poppies since the installation was dismantled.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in