MPs ridicule bizarre video by parliament’s £20,000 official ‘election artist’

MPs have ridiculed a bizarre video produced by parliament’s official ‘election artist’.

The film by Cornelia Parker shows newspapers being strewn over the famous green benches in the House of Commons chamber.

But an MP told MailOnline the nine minutes of footage represented ‘rubbish value for money’. 

Parker, who once chose a ‘solar powered vibrator’ as her luxury item on Desert Island Discs, was handed a £20,000 commission plus expenses to mark the election last June and its aftermath.

The film by Cornelia Parker shows newspapers being strewn over the famous green benches in the House of Commons chamber

The moody film of the chamber, the first digital artwork ever accepted into the Commons collection, has caused bewilderment

The moody film of the chamber, the first digital artwork ever accepted into the Commons collection, has caused bewilderment

The famous green benches are smothered with newspapers from the election campaign

The famous green benches are smothered with newspapers from the election campaign

Some of her work is currently on display in Westminster Hall.

But the moody film of the chamber, the first digital artwork ever accepted into the Commons collection, has caused bewilderment.

It starts in an empty, moodily lit chamber. Cameras carried on drones sweep around slowly, gradually revealing piles of newspapers on the benches.

Then fans appear to be started up, and the papers are blown around the room.

By the end of the video there are pages littered everywhere – and the footage fades to black after nearly nine minutes.

Tory MP Nigel Evans told MailOnline: ‘I’m all for supporting the arts, but we have always got to bear in mind the public is footing the bill.

‘They expect us to get value for money. And spewing rubbish around the Commons chamber would not seem like great value for money.

‘Many people would think it is rubbish value for money.’  

Parker was always an avant garde choice by the Commons art committee to record the election for posterity.

By the end of the video there are pages littered everywhere - and the footage fades to black after nearly nine minutes

By the end of the video there are pages littered everywhere – and the footage fades to black after nearly nine minutes

Parker was given special permission to carry out the filming in the historic Commons chamber

Parker was given special permission to carry out the filming in the historic Commons chamber

On another occasion Parker wrapped Rodin's celebrated statue 'The Kiss' in string

On another occasion Parker wrapped Rodin’s celebrated statue ‘The Kiss’ in string

She was tasked with producing ‘a unique work of art in response to her experience’. After calling the snap election in the hope of securing a thumping majority, Theresa May waged a disastrous campaign and ended up being stripped of her overall majority.

By contrast, Jeremy Corbyn was facing complete disaster at the outset, but fared far better than expected – and as a result was able to claim victory even though Labour lost.

The former Turner Prize nominee, has a history of producing off-beat works.

They include The Maybe, a piece of installation art that saw actress Tilda Swinton sleep in a glass box at the Serpentine gallery.

On another occasion she wrapped Rodin’s celebrated statue ‘The Kiss’ in string. 

Parker previously selected a ‘solar powered vibrator’ as her luxury item when she appeared on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 2003. 

Explaining her choice at the time, she said: ‘Not that I’ve ever used one, but I’d love to have the chance.’ 

Parker's previous works include The Maybe, a piece of installation art that saw actress Tilda Swinton sleep in a glass box at the Serpentine gallery

Parker’s previous works include The Maybe, a piece of installation art that saw actress Tilda Swinton sleep in a glass box at the Serpentine gallery

 

 



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