Protest outside the National Gallery against the Galleries links with Arms Trade. Placard reads “A Farewell to Arms, NO National Gallery Support For Arms Dealers". Demonstrators dressed as Artists (some are artists) with stereotype painters appearance and paraphernalia, demonstrate by painting a series of individual letters on each easel which read as a total series "DISARM THE GALLERY". The demonstrators object to the Nation Gallery being misappropriated as a venue to facilitate the arms trade. The demonstration is arranged by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). Campaign Against Arms Trade write that "Last year the National Gallery hosted the official reception for DSEi, one of the worlds largest arms fairs. Weapons manufacture Finmeccanica buys the right to use the Gallery to entertain its clients for only £30,00 a year. Art and arms don't mix: the Gallery must end its support for the arms trade." Trafalgar Square, London, UK, 31st March 2012
"Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see." Rene Magritte
UPDATE: 16th October 2012
The weapons manufacturer Finmeccanica has exercised its right to terminate its agreement with the National Gallery, after a campaign by Campaign Against Arms Trade to Disarm the Gallery. It is hoped that the National Gallery will now focus on art.
Date: 31/03/2012
Location: Trafalgar Square, London, UK
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
