Ian Bunn | Political & Popular Culture Arts

Patrice Chéreau the 66 year old French theatre director who is currently in London rehearsing his first play in the UK has provided a comparative perspective on French and English productions in an interview with Stephen Moss of the Guardian. Chéreau stated in his interview that he enjoyed English actors for their very disciplined and open work ethic, whereas in France a lot of time is spent waiting for the arrival of inspiration. He argues that France is the country of directors, whereas England is the country of writers. Chéreau is renowned for upsetting theatre traditionalists with his personal tinkering of operatic productions, with audiences initially disliking his work, for which he did not seem to mind as in his words “it’s OK to be hated.”

Inspired by Stephen Moss ow.ly/4KASu image source Nicolas Genin ow.ly/4KAOn

Xavier Ghazi the 60 year old French caricature artist living and working in Australia has won his fourth Bald Archy prize with his spoof art painting of Australian born bad boy WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The work is titled ‘Bad Ass-Ange’, depicting an over proportion headed Assange, with his trousers down to his ankles, and having a leak into Uncle Sam’s top hat ie “pissing off the empire”. The 2011 Bald Archy exhibition that began in Canberra the nation’s capital, is a competition of art works that make fun of Australian politicians, celebrities or other notoriety people with a prize of $5000 for the winning entry. The competition now in its 18th year is claimed to be judged by Maude, a sulphur crested cockatoo.

Inspired by ABC News ow.ly/4FPvG image source Resources1 ow.ly/4FPzy