The Mall Galleries Respond
An update about the painting that Leena McCall has had removed from the SWA exhibition (see below): a full statement has now been issued by the Mall Galleries:
MALL GALLERIES STATEMENT RE: PAINTING BY LEENA MCCALL
· The painting by Leena McCall was hung in an exhibition organised, selected and funded by the Society of Women Artists, who have hired the Mall Galleries (run by the Federation of British Artists) for their annual exhibition.
· The Mall Galleries played no part in its selection or hanging.
· As an educational arts charity, the Federation has a responsibility to its Trustees and to the children and vulnerable adults who use its Galleries and Learning Centre. After a number of complaints regarding the depiction of the subject and taking account of its location en route for children to our Learning Centre, we requested the painting was removed. The Society of Women Artists made no objection and replaced it with another painting, also depicting a female nude.
Mall Galleries / Federation of British Artists
This has prompted the artist to ask the following questions:
1. Why did the Mall Galleries not simply have the painting moved to a less prominent spot in the gallery?
2. Why is it ok to replace “Portrait of Ms Ruby May, standing” with a nude by another artist?
3. What is it about the painting that is seen as a threat to children/vulnerable adults?
4. Would the Society for Women Artists like to respond to this press release?
The SWA continue to be unavailable for comment…
