VANDALISM? OF COURSE NOT . . IT’S ART

Nov 15 2009 Sunday Sun

ART lovers had a smashing time at an event where they could let rip with their anger at consumerism by wrecking cars, televisions and computers with sledgehammers.

Called Scrap Club, the evening of destruction was held at Hangar 51, Newcastle yesterday.

The brainchild of artists Wajid Yaseem and Joel Cahen, it was part of the Wunderbar Festival, but completely unconnected to the controversial show held in the same building where a short film of two students having full sex was passed off as art two weeks ago.

Art lovers were invited to don safety equipment before letting rip on the assorted electronic goods, chairs and even toys.

Wajid said: “We got loads of scrap donated to us from scrapyards and well-wishers which people can smash up with sledgehammers and metal poles.

“It’s anger management, ritualised destruction and free expression against consumerism in the name of art.

“It is rooted in the Gustav Metzger’s ‘Auto-Destructive’ ideas that art work destroys itself. This was first done in the 1960s when a destruction and art symposium was held in London which saw people like John Lennon and Yoko Ono take part.”

The event saw around 50 people pay up to £4 each to take part in the orgy of destruction.

Old fridges, televisions, computers and monitors as well as items of furniture and toys were all obliterated in a frenzy.

The sound of slamming sledgehammers was accompanied by rock music from a band in one corner of the hangar.

St John’s Ambulance were in attendance to make sure that any injuries from flying debris were quickly dealt with.

Wajid added: “We have a lot of safety measures put in place for an event like this.

“People may think this is just a violent act, a piece of vandalism, but there is always a lot of love and joy at Scrap Club events that zips through the participants.

“It’s the camaraderie of taking part in something together.”