Dreadnoughts (Children's Swings Not Diamond Rings) (2010)

Nae Sums 1911, 2011 from the artist’s first major solo show in the UK, Brank & Heckle, is an imagined slogan cut from reclaimed Dundee school desks. It refers to the 1911 school strike when young people across the UK refused to go to school, provoked by the caning of a pupil in Wales. Striking pupils in Dundee made clear demands, such as the need for a half day holiday and less homework. The strike was short-lived, and after a week the children returned to their desks.

The woodblock, letterpress prints were produced following her Dreadnoughts project at the Chisenhale Gallery, London, 2010. They take slogans or ideas from political ideologies in east London from the 1830s to the 1980s. The issues are still relevant today and through her work, the artist brings them back into the public conscience. One of many campaign slogans against the London Docklands Development Corporation in the 1980s.

Dundee Art Galleries and Museums’ fine art collection is diverse and wide-ranging with historic oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, sculpture, and new media and is renowned as the first collection of fine art photography in Scotland. Recent acquisitions for the collection include work by Catherine Yass, Graham Fagan and John Stezaker.

All rights reserved. Any further use will need to be cleared with the rights holder. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending is prohibited. The collection that owns this artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

For further information, please consult our section of our copyright policy.