Tony Blair ('Photo Op')

This portraitback to top

In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the British tradition of political caricature has evolved through the practice of photomontage. Artistic duo kennardphillipps (Peter Kennard and Cat Phillipps) have pioneered the medium to confront power and war across the globe, with posters on the street or prints in newspapers, as well as online and in galleries. This poster reproduces the artists' editioned print that depicts Prime Minister Tony Blair taking a selfie against a bomb explosion. It was made to represent the negative public reaction against Blair's decision in 2003 to take Britain into the war with Iraq. A powerful statement of dissent, it has become a defining image of Britain’s involvement in that conflict.

Events of 2006back to top

Current affairs

The Loans for Peerages affair erupts after four businessmen who gave unpublished loans to the Labour Party are nominated for peerages. The scandal revealed a legal loophole: while political parties must declare all large donations, they were not required to declare loans. This led the Police to investigate whether the parties had broken the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, and to Lord Levy and Tony Blair.

Art and science

A year of blockbuster exhibitions including Modernism at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a Surrealism exhibition at the Haywood Gallery, Michaelangelo Drawings at the British Museum, Valezqueth at the National Gallery, Rodin at the Royal Academy, Holbein at Tate Britain, and David Hockney Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.

International

Following the kidnapping of two Israeli Soldiers by Lebanese Hezbollah militants, Israel launches a heavy artillery attack and ground invasion on Lebanon. In response Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israeli Defence Forces in guerrilla warfare. The conflict ended after claiming over 1500 lives - mostly Lebanese civilians - with a UN resolution calling for Hezbollah's disarmament and Israel's withdrawal of troops from Lebanon.

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