This week, British collage artist and satirist Cold War Steve, will install a rather unusual windbreak on Boscombe beach.
The Windbreak is popping up as part of Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea Festival and will stretch 25 metres along the beach.
The installation, which portrays a Bournemouth beach scene, will be free to view until Sunday 4th October. The scene takes a positive yet provocative look at the state of art, politics, and the true psyche of post-lockdown Britain. The piece features notable good people, hopeful themes and a giant ‘welcome’ mat facing the sea.
Who is Cold War Steve?
The satirical collages of Birmingham-based Cold War Steve have made him a cult phenomenon, particularly on social media. He is also highly regarded in the art world, celebrated as the ‘Brexit Bruegel’ and ‘a modern-day Hogarth’.
Cold War Steve – the nom de plume of Christopher Spencer – is currently bringing his large-scale outdoor art displays to a UK-wide audience. Through his work he brings art to the masses with installations at locations including Medway, Liverpool, Coventry, and at Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea.
The Windbreak on Boscombe beach
Always challenging and provocative, the artwork curated by Cold War Steve for Arts by the Sea was originally intended as a diptych. The piece has hopeful positivity on one side, offset by a darker opposite side depicting a dystopian nightmare.
However, the artwork has already caused debate and the dystopian side is to be covered from public view. For those of you who wish to see the whole artwork, you’ll have to go online to see it.
You can discover Cold War Steve’s piece at any point during the Arts by the Sea Festival run, and it is free to view.
When: 25th September – 4th October 2020
Where: Boscombe beach, Bournemouth, Dorset
£: Free
More info: artsbythesea.co.uk