TOP TRUMP – National Art Competition Recording Artistic & Civic Response to Presidential Visit
On Friday 13th July the judging panel decided the winner of the Top Trump competition from over 100 entries submitted by artists from all over Europe, the US and the UK.
JURY: BBC “Mash Report” Rachel Parris, Helen Pankhurst (Granddaughter of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst), political cartoonist Martin Rowson, Director of the Women of the World Festival Jude Kelly, UK artists The Singh Twins & photographic artist Tom Hunter
The winner, Hiba Jameel, an Iraqi American contemporary artist, was selected for her painting ‘I really don’t care, do you?’
On hearing of her victory Hiba responded;
“While I am thrilled my painting got selected I cannot be fully happy during these sad times we are living in. This painting is not for me, it is for the people and all the children who suffered childhood trauma due to the unrest of the political climate.”- @hibajartstudio www.hibajameel.com
Judge Rachel Parris commenting on Hiba’s entry said; “It is so powerful it deserves recognition.”
Judges and artists the Singh Twins said;
“For us, Hiba’s response was topical and thought provoking – capturing not only the hard faced, uncaring attitude that many have come to dislike about Trump but also questioning (it seemed to us, in a possible interpretation of the artwork’s title) whether we as onlookers care enough to challenge his style of administration.”
The Rapid Response Unit – A unique project fusing art with news & current affairs – ran the “real time” art competition to record artistic and creative responses to the working visit of President Trump on Friday 13th July.
Artists of all disciplines were encouraged to submit digital examples of their creative reactions for consideration by a panel of artists, activists, comedians and journalists.
Works submitted included satirical cartoons, serious art, sculpture and graphic art – even a poem parodying Robbie Burns.
Hiba’s painting will be donated to the Permanent Collection of the Newseum in Washington DC. The museum is situated on Pennsylvania Avenue conveniently close to the White House and Trump Tower in case the President wants to see the winning work.
Alongside artist submissions the Rapid Response Unit also gathered imagery of protest art from the rallies that took place around the country for consideration.
RRU Bureau Editor Mark Donne said:
“This real time challenge allows us to elevate the most powerful creative reactions – from street to gallery – onto an international canvas. It will also produce a memento of the President’s visit that he can cherish forever