This is the first of two mixed media artworks I’ve designed to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This piece is inspired by the song 1977 which first appeared on the B-side of White Riot by The Clash. The lyrics to the second verse of the song are:
“In 1977
Knives in West 11
Ain’t so lucky to be rich
Sten guns in Knightsbridge”
About the picture.
The design of the flag is based on the Union Flag, it is twice as wide as it is tall (38cm x 19cm) and all the other lines and angles are in proportion to the original flag. In the picture, the flag is depicted upside down, which indicates a distress signal. For me and doubtless many others, the punk movement was in a way also a distress signal.
The Sten gun was a World War II sub-machine gun capable of firing nine rounds per second, hence the nine letter k’s in Knightsbridge. The photograph in the picture is a terrace of houses in Knightsbridge and the song 1977 was released in (surprise surprise) 1977, the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
The picture was composed using water colour paints (Windsor Violet pan and Orange liquid), newspaper cuttings, inkjet printing and glue on mould made, acid free 300gsm water colour paper.
The photos below show the artwork in various stages of completion.
