Telling it Like it Is
Changing the Poverty Narrative One Story at a Time
Pete McKee - Painting a Better Picture
The artist Pete McKee from the city of Sheffield in the UK is renowned for dismantling stereotypes about the working classes with his exuberant, joyful paintings, drawings and murals. As part of his exhibition, This Class Works, Pete is letting Project Twist-It host some short videos where he explains the backdrop to and inspiration for a few of his works. You can also read the Q & A Pete has contributed to the Blog Page on this website explaining why telling stories through art are important and transformative.
Pete talks about how one street in Sheffield helped inspire a piece of art.
Let them eat crisps
This short video shows Pete with a painting that is a play on the words of the infamous Marie-Antoinette quote - ‘Let them eat cake’. He describes how the work is a response to “modern day misunderstandings of poverty and hunger.”
national hug service
The work Pete talks about in this short video was a response to his own care from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). It is an homage to what the NHS does for ordinary people beyond medical care. Its about the ‘love and tenderness” that patients experience.
Kwame Boateng
Kwame Boateng, Founder of Project Five Fifths
In this short video interview Kwame talks about why the distance created between people can isolate those in poverty and reduce empathy. A masters student at the London School of Economics and a filmmaker, Kwame is interested in how we tell our stories and how to break down the distance and barriers between individuals and communities.