Artist and university lecturer Dr Colin Cameron is raising funds for Ukrainian refugees – by poking fun at Vladimir Putin.
Colin, who lives in Whitley Bay, specialises in the unusual artistic pursuit of painting pictures of people picking their noses. He has so far produced more than 70 different nose studies ranging from a wedding party and ladies taking tea at a café to “nit” nurses visiting a school.and a day on the beach.
In November he held a successful exhibition of his work at The Exchange in North Shields and then had two of his nostril paintings accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. Both were snapped up on the first day.
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Now he has responded to the invasion of Ukraine by creating a painting of President Putin exercising his finger and this weekend started selling prints of the work at Tynemouth Market. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross Ukrainian appeal and if the first batch of prints sells out, more will be produced.
Colin, who teaches at Northumbria University, is following the belief that a weapon which can be directed at autocrats who cultivate a strong-man image is the use of belittling humour. This was the case when Hitler was targeted during the Second World War, from Charlie Chaplin’s film The Great Dictator and songs such as Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler to ruder songs, cartoons and impressions.
“So-called strong men want to be seen as great figures, and portraying them picking their noses is a way of undermining and challenging that image of being all-powerful, which is want they want to project,” said Colin. “I know that painting people picking their noses is odd, but it is what I do. Lots of people are doing different things to help the refugees so I have done my Putin painting and people can help by buying a print, and it raises money, then great.
“Directing humour can be effective against the structure of power. Humour is also a way of dealing with something awful and is a way of showing that you will not be intimidated.”
The 30cms x 40cms prints are £15 and can be ordered at colinascameron@gmail.com. Colin has built up an enthusiastic following for his work and as a result of the Royal Academy exhibition, an arts agency has commissioned half a dozen new paintings and will be taking his creations to galleries and fairs in the UK.
