From Saturday 6th to Tuesday 9th August 2011, riots gripped the UK. Starting from a seemingly innocuous protest in Tottenham, North London, gangs soon started to rampage the streets, smashing in windows and setting fire to buildings
The police response was baffling, as they seem to have been caught completely unprepared and there were reports that they stood by as looters looted and torched buildings.
These were troubling times, and many of us in London were gripped to the news reports, hoping against hope that the rioters would get arrested and London would get back to being the greatest city in the world once again.
But as days went on and the police looked impotent night after night, the riots spread across the UK. Londoners were gripped with fear and I admit to having sleepless nights worrying about the safety of my family and our homes.
This piece is an image of that insomnia, drawn on an article about immigrants in one of the most conservative of newspapers, The Daily Mail, which I detest.
This recent wave of civil unrest is complex and unless the government do something to address the widening gap between rich and poor and stop excluding large swathes of society from participating, I'm sure we will see more sleepless nights here in London
August 23, 2011 at 3:58 PM
I remember we were IM chatting during some of that time. Good card.
August 23, 2011 at 4:04 PM
We were probably chatting at about 3 in the morning when I was rocking backwards and forwards in my bed fearing for my life!
August 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Great post and card Andy. Thanks for sharing.
August 25, 2011 at 12:39 AM
I'm going to give you a really big compliment Andy.
When I saw this post in the thumbnails, I thought it was Kiera! I think this might be your best drawing yet.
August 25, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Oh JJ that is a huge compliment indeed! I am a huge fan of Kieras work and that is a wonderful comparison! i will strive to make more like this!
August 25, 2011 at 12:41 AM
...and I remember when we said back in the early days that the 365 would be a good chance for us to try this drawing thing... ;-)
Post a Comment