Art in the frame at the arms fair

Art and creative expression were a feature of protests against the arms fair

by The Friend Newsdesk 15th September 2017

A feature of the protest at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DESI) arms fair this year was the prominence given to art and creative expression.

An exhibition of art from around the world, displaying the work of hundreds of artists based on the theme of the arms trade, ran from 11 to 15 September in London coinciding with the arms fair.

Work was sold to support the work of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and the exhibition ‘Art the Arms Fair’ also hosted a series of creative events using different types of art to shine a light on the arms fair and its impact.

Alex Thomas, one of the organisers of Art the Arms Fair, said: ‘DSEI is one of the biggest arms fairs in the world but even people from East London have no idea that military delegations from human rights abusing regimes, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Bahrain will be shopping for guns in their neighbourhood.

‘Art the Arms Fair will raise awareness about the arms fair and the deadly consequences of selling arms, whilst making something beautiful.’

The exhibition was held at Capstan House, Clove Crescent, in East London. Pieces relating to the arms trade and stopping it were used to promote the protest on social media and sold at the exhibition.

There was also a strong community presence at the arms fair on Saturday 9 September when people were invited to bring themselves, ‘art materials, friends and family’ and ‘make art outside the arms fair’.

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