Was this wrong?
 

Was the British olympic commission wrong to include Marcus Harvey's portrait 'Myra' as part of a presentation promoting Britain's hosting the 2012 games?

Obviously it was designed to pesent Britain as a 'happening' cultural centre, but is showcasing a painting of an infamous child murderer the right way to do it?

Here's the painting:



And here's a couple of links about the portrait, and Hindley herself. For those that aren't aware of the controversy surrounding either:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Harvey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myra_Hindley

I've seen that painting in the flesh, and it's fairly dull, ersatz controversial nonsense. To address yer main question - no, it's an absurd idea, dreamt up by some coke-snorting wankers, who haven't thought for a second about the impact that this will have on the families of Lesley Ann Downey, Keith Bennett and Edward Evans.

I agree. I don't mind the painting itself but an art gallery is not the same as a sports arena. Clearly a case of trendy Blairites getting 'down' by playing the controversy card. Expect some serious sackings in the next couple of days.

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

i pissed myself laughing when i heard this... seriously tho.. thats an unbelievable cock up by someone.. who thought that would be a good idea!!!!!

its like the irish tourist board showing a clip of the dublin bombings in 1974

funny out situation....

I thought the Britain presentation was really tacky.

Olympics in London. I can see it now, another series of Beatles reissues. Special commemorative Olympic LP pressings or some such shit. Christ.

I hear Gacy's clowns are being used to promote the circus.

No. I don't have a problem with it.
There's a big difference between an art piece and a booking photo.

I don't care, it's a piece of crap anyway.

fuckin a right

nothing sez "culture" like child murder

thumbs up

i'd hit it

It's with a degree of irony this is being discussed on this forum; cos hey- heres another one for you - was it 'right' for Raymond Pettibon to use an image of Maureen Hindley (Myra's sister and witness in trial) on the front cover of Sonic Youth's Goo?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/...09a8e7.jpg?v=0

eh weve known this for decades please no rehashes awwwww

ha! touchee and good point.......... they did americanized it tho i mean the type on the cover didnt say "i borrowd my sisters special friend it was drizzly and damp within a fortnight we told our mothers to "go away" and we went and drank some tea"

ha ha!!!

i have to post this....

BLOUSE- ME OH MYRA


"POGO ON THAT YOU TWAT"

Ha, oh yes I'd forgotten about that; brilliant!

If it happened to represent the best of British art, the subject wouldn't matter. Having said that, the subject of the painting is always going to ruffle feathers. Ultimately, it's an insensitive oversight, but certainly not shitstorm-worthy.

You're right, it isn't. But this was used in an event that had the world media as its target. (it appeared alongside David Beckham kicking a ball and Leona Lewis singing a song). The tabloids were always gonna create a shit-storm out of something like that. If i wear a nazi armband at an S&M club, I'm a kinky twat. If I wear one at a Jackie Mason concert, i'm just a prat.