As if by way of a nod to trompe l’oeil, the works forming Nevan Lahart’s
ongoing ‘Static TV’ series (from 2001) are set in isometric TV structures,
a framing device for referencing his personal feelings, art history and
things as seen on TV, particularly socio-political media images. Included
in the series are ‘Ch.26: Sub-Commandant Marcos, The Friendly Terrorist
(After R. Hamilton)’ and ‘Ch.76: 3 Cheers for the Psalms of Mordechai Vanunu
(Before R. Hamilton)’ (2002 and 2007 respectively), originally made as
separate works but which subsequently formed a diptych. Both these
titles reference the artist Richard Hamilton, frequently known as the
Father of Pop, who, like Lahart, uses appropriated media imagery in
his work. The former alludes to Hamilton’s ‘The Citizen’ (1981–3), from
his Northern Ireland series. The latter was conceived and painted as
a contemporary update of Hamilton’s ‘Swingeing London 67’ (1968–9),
depicting the arrest of Mick Jagger and the art dealer Robert Fraser
following a drug raid.