A manifesto – or a big idea – can also be represented as objects rather than as words. As Marshall McLuhan said, the medium is the message. The medium that you use to convey your idea can be part of what you have to say. The artist James Cauty made a series of works titled Riot In A Jam Jar . Find out as much as you can about these works and write 250 words in your learning log explaining the big-ideas that are represented through these small physical objects.
Jimmy Cauty, an anarchist musician come artist has created an exhibition titled ‘Riot in a Jam Jar’ which was on display in L-13 Gallery in Clerkenwell in 2011.
Each jam jar on display contained a historic or imagined riot scene. They have been created using traditional model making methods and architectural figures that were amended and repainted to fit the scheme. They were pocket sized snapshots of sometimes funny but mainly shocking, bloody violence.
The artist was trying to draw attention to the way media portrays these situations. He protested trivialising the issues, presenting them like bullets of information, sensational news and basically being clickbait. Instead, he was trying to emphasise that nobody wants to riot, yet the socio-political situation forces people to rebel against authority, in attempt to change things.
Jimmy Caunty likes to shock, to draw attention by unusual actions or techniques, such as giving a £40k worst artist award to Rachel Whiteread for the ‘House’ or dropping a dead sheep at the Brit awards after party.
Fig. 1 Off Wiv Their Eds: Prince Charles is pulled from his car by student protestors who then attempt to behead him while his wife, Camilla, looks on.
List of Illustrations:
Fig.1 L_13.org (n.d.) Off Wiv Their Eds: Prince Charles is pulled from his car by student protestors who then attempt to behead him while his wife, Camilla, looks on. [Photograph of artwork] https://fadmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Off-Wiv-Their-Head_James-Cauty_A-Riot-in-a-Jam-Jar.jpg (Accessed 05/11/2022)
References:
ArrestedMotion (n.d.) Showing: James cauty – “A riot in a jam jar” @ L-13 [Online]. Available at https://arrestedmotion.com/2011/06/showing-james-cauty-a-riot-in-a-jam-jar/ (Accessed 5 November 2022).
djphilmanns (2011) James cauty – Riot in A Jam Jar – London news coverage [Online]. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJkGSj5Xbmo (Accessed 5 November 2022).
Evening Standard (2012) Jimmy Cauty is the Jam Jar rebel [Online]. Available at https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/jimmy-cauty-is-the-jam-jar-rebel-6404473.html (Accessed 5 November 2022).
Farley, S., Coles, B., Hewett, I., Knapton, S. and Styllis, G. (2011) “A Riot In A Jam Jar: controversial artworks by Jimmy Cauty, formerly of The KLF,” Sunday telegraph, The Telegraph, 1st June [Online]. Available at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8548321/A-Riot-In-A-Jam-Jar-controversial-artworks-by-Jimmy-Cauty-formerly-of-The-KLF.html (Accessed 5 November 2022).
L-13.org (n.d.) A riot in A jam jar – L-13 light industrial workshop [Online]. Available at https://l-13.org/projects/jimmy-cauty/riot-in-a-jam-jar/ (Accessed 5 November 2022).
Westall, M. (2011) Jimmy cauty A RIOT IN A JAM JAR at L-13 private view Tuesday 31st MAY 2011 [Online]. Available at https://fadmagazine.com/2011/05/31/james-cauty-a-riot-in-a-jam-jar-at-l-13-private-view-tuesday-31st-may-2011/ (Accessed 5 November 2022).
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