Deller’s Smokers Spark Controversy in Manchester

Published: July 7, 2009

Photo by recursivedreamer, courtesy Flickr

A group of "unrepentant" smokers in Jeremy Deller's procession for the 2009 Manchester International Festival

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MANCHESTER, England—On the heels of a controversial traveling exhibition across the U.S. that featured experts engaging audiences in dialogue about the Iraq war, Turner Prize–winning artist Jeremy Deller has ignited discussion again with his proposal for the Manchester International Festival, which is taking place through July 19.

Deller’s “procession,” which helped kick-start the festival, was commissioned to celebrate the city and its history, traditions, and characters. He chose to showcase these elements through his inclusion of various groups of people in the parade, such as scouts, mill workers, goths, rose queens, and, controversially, a group of “unrepentant” smokers. City officials voiced concerns about the event promoting smoking to children, but it went forward as planned, with artist David Hockney, a smoker himself, contributing a drawing of an ashtray that was carried as part of the event.

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