Photo Op (photomontage)
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Photo Op is a 2005 photomontage of the British prime minister Tony Blair taking a selfie against a backdrop of burning oil. It was created by the collaborative kennardphillipps, consisting of the artists Peter Kennard and Cat Phillipps.
kennardphillipps are an art collaborative who make works of art inspired by the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] kennardphillipps consists of the artists Peter Kennard and Cat Phillipps, the pair use digital collage to campaign against war and capitalism.[2] Photo Op was projected onto the Central Hall in Westminster during the Iraq Inquiry which was being held at the neighbouring Queen Elizabeth II Centre.[3][4]
The work was created with Photoshop using an image of Blair taking a selfie with Royal Navy cadets during the 2005 General Election campaign. The image of the cadets was replaced with a photograph of burning oil.[2] kennardphillipps said of the work that it was " … born out of two years of hard work to pull down the propaganda machine" and that they were trying to "portray Iraq as it happened and not wait until afterwards and make a history painting".[2] The work was created with the intention that it be used by groups protesting the 31st G8 summit in July 2005 at Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.[4] Photo Op was subsequently displayed on placards carried by the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army Group and was also on leaflets distributed at the DSEI in September 2005.[4]
The work is available to download from the artist's website free of charge and users are encouraged to create their own version of the piece.[2]
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