Award-winning artist George Butler presents work in the Artist as Witness: The Impact of War exhibition at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum
This thought-provoking exhibition explores the importance of the artist as eyewitness, providing insights not only into warfare but also the impact of war on those involved and the communities affected. It includes artwork from the First and Second World War, as well as recent work by award-winning artist George Butler of the war in Ukraine.
Illustrator, George Butler, reports on the ground from conflict zones, climate hotspots and humanitarian crises. He uses pen, ink and watercolours to highlight personal stories of resilience - by slowing down and going deeper than the headlines. His humanistic approach is shifting how we think about the news.
George’s work has previously been featured in the V&A, and his book “Ukraine: Remember Also Me” has been met with critical acclaim. In the book, twenty-five Ukrainians tell the story of their own lifetime and giving context, exposing the intricacies of communities affected by the war.
In this thought-provoking exhibition, visitors are able to view his recent work on the war in Ukraine. The book has come at the culmination of the two years George spent in Ukraine, producing striking and intimate illustrations that introduce us to the people behind the most eye-catching news stories. His work is a timely reminder of our universal humanity and is particularly poignant in the current moment.
The testimonies of everyday people that wouldn’t necessarily have made it into the pages of our newspapers, but are equally valuable and insightful, as the ones that did. George’s illustrations highlight insights that don’t get picked up by regular reporting. For example, his depictions of the tanks the Ukrainians use, some Russian with yellow painted on the turrets so that infantry can recognise which side they’re on, remind us that although this is a very modern war with its drones and reliance on aid, it also has echoes of the trench warfare of the Second World War.
George says of his practice of drawing in real time in situ, “The process allows you to be there without being a voyeur,... It's unthreatening; people can walk away whenever they like”. He is able to connect to his subjects, breaking down barriers of fear and hostility simply by spending time.
“There is a sort of composite image that you can piece together, and the white space allows people to superimpose what they know of that moment. It's not polarising, there aren’t extremes there,” George Butler.
The exhibition is co-curated by Dr. Gill Clarke MBE and the Russell-Cotes, and is accompanied by a catalogue, available to buy in the Russell-Cotes Shop. It showcases a rich collection of artworks from the museum’s permanent holdings, alongside significant loans from private and regional collections.
“George Butler reports from the frontline of humanity, producing images of astonishing power. They stay in the mind for a long time. Humane, compassionate and deeply thought-provoking.”
Stephen Fry
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, East Cliff Promenade, Bournemouth, BH1 3AA
Exhibition runs 25th October 25 - 8th March 26
Artist as Witness: The Impact of War is included in standard admission to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, and is free for Friends members.