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protesters block entrance to Barbican
A controversial art exhibition featuring black actors in chains and cages has been cancelled after protests last night prevented its opening show from running.
About 200 people took to the streets surrounding the Barbican disrupting traffic and blocking its entrances.
Their anger was directed at 'Exhibit B' - a project based on the 19th century phenomenon of the human zoo by which slaves were displayed as museum objects to white Europeans and Americans.
Artist Brett Bailey had recruited a number of people of African and Afro-Caribbean origin and arranged them as living sculptures to offer a painful reminder of the appalling history of colonialism and racial hatred.
A spokesman for the Barbican said it became 'impossible' to continue the exhibit because of the 'extreme nature of the protest and the serious threat to the safety of performers, audiences and staff'.
'Given that protests are scheduled for future performances of Exhibit B we have had no choice but to cancel all performances of the piece.
'We find it profoundly troubling that such methods have been used to silence artists and performers and that audiences have been denied the opportunity to see this important work. Exhibit B raises, in a serious and responsible manner, issues about racism.
'It has previously been shown in 12 cities, involved 150 performers and been seen by around 25,000 people with the responses from participants, audiences and critics alike being overwhelmingly positive.
'The Barbican has done everything we can to ensure London performances can go ahead – including continued dialogue with protesters and senior Barbican staff meeting with the leaders of the campaign and attending a public meeting to discuss the issues raised by the work.
[video]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2767961/Human-zoo-art-exhibition-featuring-black-actors-cages-chains-cancelled-protesters-block-entrance-Barbican.html#v-3803358717001[/video]
Do you think this is racist? Or do you think it brings attention to the suffering of those who where slaves?
In my opinion, I don't like it, I don't see how it puts across a message, it seems to be an exhibition to me of human beings and these are real people not wax models. But he says it is trying to show the barbarism of slavery and yet I don't see it, in something like this, it becomes a show with only the ability of using it as entertainment.
A controversial art exhibition featuring black actors in chains and cages has been cancelled after protests last night prevented its opening show from running.
About 200 people took to the streets surrounding the Barbican disrupting traffic and blocking its entrances.
Their anger was directed at 'Exhibit B' - a project based on the 19th century phenomenon of the human zoo by which slaves were displayed as museum objects to white Europeans and Americans.
Artist Brett Bailey had recruited a number of people of African and Afro-Caribbean origin and arranged them as living sculptures to offer a painful reminder of the appalling history of colonialism and racial hatred.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
A spokesman for the Barbican said it became 'impossible' to continue the exhibit because of the 'extreme nature of the protest and the serious threat to the safety of performers, audiences and staff'.
'Given that protests are scheduled for future performances of Exhibit B we have had no choice but to cancel all performances of the piece.
'We find it profoundly troubling that such methods have been used to silence artists and performers and that audiences have been denied the opportunity to see this important work. Exhibit B raises, in a serious and responsible manner, issues about racism.
'It has previously been shown in 12 cities, involved 150 performers and been seen by around 25,000 people with the responses from participants, audiences and critics alike being overwhelmingly positive.
'The Barbican has done everything we can to ensure London performances can go ahead – including continued dialogue with protesters and senior Barbican staff meeting with the leaders of the campaign and attending a public meeting to discuss the issues raised by the work.
You must be registered for see images
[video]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2767961/Human-zoo-art-exhibition-featuring-black-actors-cages-chains-cancelled-protesters-block-entrance-Barbican.html#v-3803358717001[/video]
Do you think this is racist? Or do you think it brings attention to the suffering of those who where slaves?
In my opinion, I don't like it, I don't see how it puts across a message, it seems to be an exhibition to me of human beings and these are real people not wax models. But he says it is trying to show the barbarism of slavery and yet I don't see it, in something like this, it becomes a show with only the ability of using it as entertainment.
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