Time to Flog Gordon?

Anyone who's ever worked in Wonkville will know that timing is key.  In contrast, academic policy types don't concern themselves with it, happily dotting the i's and crossing the t's on their 10,000 word monographs that will change the world. Unfortunately, more often than not their insights are delivered long after the debate is over. But for a wonk with press targets it's all about the timing. When your thoughts are a bit hazy, much can be achieved by tethering yourself to something more solid. (You may have gathered from my first posting that I was not a naturalised inhabitant of Wonkville.)

So, what's all this guff got to do with the art? Well, I have on exhibit a 'Wonky Woman' series of screenprints. No propaganda art this - party political tub-thumping is out - rather, the intention was to comment on contemporary policy.  

My first such - reprinted in the AOH brochure - depicts Jamie Oliver as enlightened guru of food policy veiled by a 'poverty map' of London. If you're up for a bit of history, in the late 19th century Charles Booth carried out surveys of poverty, classified individual streets according to the income and social class of their inhabitants and produced colour-coded maps of certain areas. My point was that notwithstanding the aims of government interventions we make choices influenced by things like our income and access to education. Even Effervescent, politically naive as a neonate, 'gets' this.

But my latest is more of a challenge and it's all to do with the timing. When more appropriate than now to portray Gordon Brown as Ganesh, Lord of Success (complete with man boobs)? Too subtle perhaps are the tarnished New Labour roses and the marauding soldiers wielding weapons in the background. 

And after all, as Effervescent commented, 'it doesn't really look like Gordon Ramsay does it.' Oh I give up! Yes, my dear, of course - I have been so inspired by the baking of late to create a series of artwork featuring celebrity chefs. 

So it was in exasperation that the foundations for my new venture were laid - Gordon Brown whoopee cushions.  Hmm ... what do you reckon, scope for a bit of product differentiation ... Boris?