Video Installation Withdrawn After Historical Dispute
A video installation by artist Helen Cammock, displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in central London, has been removed after generating controversy regarding its depiction of Sir Winston Churchill's involvement in the 1943 Bengal famine.
The 40-minute artwork, titled 'Persistence,' included a reference to "the wilful starvation of the Indian population by Winston Churchill." This specific statement drew criticism, including an open letter to the gallery signed by over 50 peers, among them Churchill's grandson, Sir Nicholas Soames, and Lord Roberts of Belgravia, a biographer of Churchill. They contended that the assertion was historically inaccurate.
Artist's Perspective and Gallery's Response
Helen Cammock, a Turner Prize-winning artist, stated that her work was not intended as a documentary but rather an exploration of historical narratives. In a statement, she expressed, "There is an incredible pressure on artists and arts institutions to bend to external pressure; to be benign at best and silent at worst. I do not accept this pressure. To question, challenge and explore ideas and histories is vital to a healthy society and art is intrinsic to this." She clarified that her work is grounded in academic research and aims to prompt reflection on whose stories are honored and whose are overlooked.
The National Portrait Gallery confirmed the artist's decision to remove the film. A gallery spokesperson noted, "We respect her decision, just as we acknowledge the opinions of those who were offended by what was said in the film. The aim of this project was to give artists the opportunity to create works as personal and creative responses to our collection. The work was presented as an artistic piece, not a documentary, and the views expressed in the film do not necessarily reflect those of the NPG." The gallery emphasized its respect for both the legacies of individuals portrayed within its collection and artistic expression.
The Bengal Famine Debate
The Bengal famine of 1943 led to an estimated three million deaths in eastern India. Churchill's exact role and the extent of British policy contributions to the famine remain a subject of ongoing academic dispute. Lord Roberts of Belgravia argued that the famine was primarily caused by a typhoon and that Churchill had instructed his war cabinet to prioritize aid efforts and sought international assistance for grain. Conversely, some historians maintain that Churchill's wartime policies exacerbated the famine's impact.
Cammock's installation, which had been on display for ten months as part of the 'Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture' exhibition, also drew parallels between Churchill's actions and Oliver Cromwell's 17th-century military campaigns in Ireland, where Cromwell was described as having "starved people, en masse."
Source: National Portrait Gallery display withdrawn after Churchill row