LAC X DAS
After months of hard work, many litres of paint and several national lockdowns the launch of Lawyers Arts Club arrived in true Birmingham fashion on the 2nd September at Digbeth Art Space.
The night consisted of music, food, drinks and a diverse yet synergetic guestlist. All of this was surrounded by the stunning original artwork designed and created by the two stars of the evening and resident artists at the LAC - George Cox and Harri Hampson.
The idea to combine the world of Law with the Arts community was born back in 2020. Our aim is to use the creativity and ambiguity of art and applies a crucial and relevant legal narrative. In doing this, and hosting events like the opening night, we are creating a positive environment which connects two seemingly parallel worlds. By producing artwork that encourages conversations and displaying it to a group of lawyers and artists there is a very real opportunity for education and change in society. The mission is simple, yet the outcome could be off the charts.
After being denied a final year show due to the global pandemic. Illustration graduates George Cox and Harri Hampson were just beginning to accept that their talents as artists would have to just be a hobby, as they find their way into an increasingly difficult and oversaturated jobseekers world. However, thanks to the Government’s Kickstarter scheme, we were not only able to see the potential in these two young artists, but to do something about it. By giving the two recent graduates a steady wage, supplies and a brief, George and Harri were given the opportunity to show the world what they can do.
The room was full of the low hum of conversation all directed to the 61 pieces that took centre stage that evening. Across the back wall was 40 square frames showcasing the first project that the Lawyers Arts Club introduced to the world. Law on the Wall is a series of digital artworks which was launched in March 2021, as a public exhibition in Victoria Square, Birmingham. Each artwork displays one word taken from twenty separate acts of parliament; this is the first layer to LOTW. The second layer comes with the fact that every piece is connected via QR code to a dedicated webpage that informs the viewer on that specific UK legislation. The project really highlights the importance that people should understand the governance and laws that they abide by day by day.
Situated under the Law on the Wall pieces is the Legal Cartoon series by Harri Hampson. Harri’s style is cartoon-esque, bringing in such intricate elements of fine art to create a story. Each hand drawn illustration corresponds with one of the 20 legislations. With his own unique style and flair Harri Hampson has created scenes that give a visual representation to the relevant parliamentary act. Each one is a snapshot into the worlds that the legislation, or the crime that the legislation prosecutes, has affected. This third layer to LOTW takes your interpretation of a single word and adds the visual aid, it is easy to read a word and forget it, however it is not so easy to see an original Harri Hampson and forget it.
On either side of the collage of education and interpretation that is Law on the Wall, and the Legal Cartoons is much bigger, poster sized pieces that form the Vaccinationism series by George Cox. On 27th January 2021, Conservative MP Sir Desmond Swayne coined the term Vaccinationism, during a speech warning the house that the country is headed down a slippery slope of vaccine discrimination. The ability to talk about it now before it becomes a bigger issue will be crucial to way that it is handled in the grander scheme of things. George Cox’s 20 posters are designed to do just that. From Hendrix to Bowie, from World War Propaganda to Disney. Using a multitude of different mediums, the twenty posters are reimagined designs that stick true to its original form as well as incorporating that crucial message of Vaccinationism. These fit alongside the three original concepts by George himself.
It was always going to be a night of relaxation, enjoyable networking, and important relevant conversations. But we see it as so much more than that. With an amazing homemade pakora in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, we created a safe and open place in which unlikely friendships were made, stories were shared, and visions created. This was not just the launch of Lawyers Arts Club, nor was it just an exhibition for two budding new artists. It was an integral step forward and firm basis for the world of Law and the Art community. We implore you to take yourself and anyone you know down to Digbeth Art Space before the end of September to see for yourself.