‘Monumentally terrible’: Nigel Farage unveils ‘Mr Brexit’ portrait, gets panned by social media
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage marked the UK finally leaving the EU, some three and a half years after the country voted to do so, by unveiling a portrait of himself as ‘Mr Brexit’. The artwork has not been well received online.
Nigel Farage during the unveiling of his ‘Mr Brexit’ portrait by artist Dan Llywelyn Hall at L’Escargot Restaurant in London
? @KirstyOConnor_ pic.twitter.com/STePqRINTN
— PA Media (@PA) January 30, 2020
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The portrait by artist Dan Llywelyn Hall was unveiled by Farage and British comedian Jim Davidson at L’Escargot Restaurant in London on Thursday, a day before the UK officially withdraws from the EU.
As social media swiftly proved, everyone’s a critic, and Twitter commenters were quick to pile in with their jibes at the “distasteful” painting. “Twitter *really* needs to add a dislike button,” one person tweeted, as another remarked: “It’s monumentally terrible.”
It looks like one of those Paintings by Numbers kits
— John Crace (@JohnJCrace) January 30, 2020
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I want someone who looks at me the way The Picture Of Nigel Farage looks at Jim Davidson. pic.twitter.com/JxNhrNvslM
— Sinclair (@ItsEdSinclair) January 30, 2020
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A few people questioned if this was all some kind of stunt for a parody television show, while several posted their own photoshopped versions of the portrait, including depicting Farage in the style of Edvard Munch’s iconic artwork, The Scream.
— christhebarker (@christhebarker) January 30, 2020
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— christhebarker (@christhebarker) January 30, 2020
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It’s not the first time the Leave campaigner has been immortalized on canvas: a portrait of Farage painted by artist David Griffiths and priced at £25,000 was featured at Britain’s prestigious Royal Academy of Art summer exhibition in 2018. The artwork failed to attract any buyers.
I preferred the portrait of Nigel Farage (right) in the 2018 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition curated by Grayson Perry. The figurative painting on the left should also have a place in the People’s Gallery of Brexit Art. #MrBrexit https://t.co/F8czCaewxh pic.twitter.com/bKltT56AsC
— John Rogan (@JRogan3000) January 30, 2020
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‘Monumentally terrible’: Nigel Farage unveils ‘Mr Brexit’ portrait, gets panned by social media