He was an artist in the prime of his talent who became a tank commander and was killed in action during the Second World War. Now, his work is viewed as “racist” and “offensive” and is being hidden from the public. This is the story of Rex Whistler.

bullet

t3detq-image.png

FD287EA7-DD26-46E1-A908-6905560B8F45-3iDC0wU4Q.jpg

He was an artist in the prime of his talent who became a tank commander and was killed in action during the Second World War. Now, his work is viewed as “racist” and “offensive” and is being hidden from the public. This is the story of Rex Whistler.

Aged just 21, Whistler was tasked to paint a mural that would cover all four walls of a room in the famous Tate Gallery in London. The immense work, “In Pursuit of Rare Meats”, took 18 months to complete and was hailed as a triumph.

Aged just 21, Whistler was tasked to paint a mural that would cover all four walls of a room in the famous Tate Gallery in London. The immense work, “In Pursuit of Rare Meats”, took 18 months to complete and was hailed as a triumph.

That year, the River Thames burst its banks and flooded the lower ground floor of the Tate, covering the entire mural in muddy sewage water. Fortunately, the recently applied coats of wax and turpentine spared the work from much damage, and it was fully restored.

That year, the River Thames burst its banks and flooded the lower ground floor of the Tate, covering the entire mural in muddy sewage water. Fortunately, the recently applied coats of wax and turpentine spared the work from much damage, and it was fully restored.

But this isn’t the only tragedy to befall this artwork. In 2020, almost 80 years later, the Tate announced that the room where the mural is, now a popular and reasonably priced restaurant, would be permanently closed to the public, for the work was deemed “offensive”.

But this isn’t the only tragedy to befall this artwork. In 2020, almost 80 years later, the Tate announced that the room where the mural is, now a popular and reasonably priced restaurant, would be permanently closed to the public, for the work was deemed “offensive”. 

The problem with the work, as far as the Tate Gallery viewed it, was that in this mythical landscape depictions of Chinese people were “stereotypical”, and that there was an image of a black child being dragged away, which the gallery posited as a symbol of slavery.

The problem with the work, as far as the Tate Gallery viewed it, was that in this mythical landscape depictions of Chinese people were “stereotypical”, and that there was an image of a black child being dragged away, which the gallery posited as a symbol of slavery.

The message of the inclusion of these images in the painting – that even in worlds viewed as utopian there will always be forms of suffering – was clearly lost on those in the Tate. Instead, they focused on the “deeply problematic racist imagery”.

The message of the inclusion of these images in the painting – that even in worlds viewed as utopian there will always be forms of suffering – was clearly lost on those in the Tate. Instead, they focused on the “deeply problematic racist imagery”.

The issue with the Tate Gallery removing access to this painting is that it is not unique at all in highlighting forms of imagery that are viewed as disturbing or troubling. Indeed, art has always been regarded as something that should evoke emotions.

The issue with the Tate Gallery removing access to this painting is that it is not unique at all in highlighting forms of imagery that are viewed as disturbing or troubling. Indeed, art has always been regarded as something that should evoke emotions.

Art galleries are full of disturbing imagery, with depictions of murder, rape, crucifixion, martyrdom, sex, sexualisation and slavery being prevalent in many. “Modern” art galleries usually have even more disturbing “artworks” on display. Are these ever hidden away?

Art galleries are full of disturbing imagery, with depictions of murder, rape, crucifixion, martyrdom, sex, sexualisation and slavery being prevalent in many. “Modern” art galleries usually have even more disturbing “artworks” on display.  Are these ever hidden away?

Despite Whistler giving his life defending the democratic world from Fascism, the inclusion of several small depictions of non-white people in a huge artwork are abstracted to prove that Whistler in fact was racist, pro-slavery, and whatever else the imaginative can dream up.

Despite Whistler giving his life defending the democratic world from Fascism, the inclusion of several small depictions of non-white people in a huge artwork are abstracted to prove that Whistler in fact was racist, pro-slavery, and whatever else the imaginative can dream up.

The Persecution of Rex Whistler

The War on the West, by Douglas Murray

Racism 

Art 🖼

Culture 🎇

Single

I write about food, cooking, and finding meaning in the mundane.

All about love, beauty, and going back to our roots.

The Persecution of Rex Whistler

Support this creator and gain access to exclusive content