Robin Tomens : The EY Exhibition: The World Goes Pop at Tate Modern

'I see no reason why the artistic world can't absolutely merge with Madison Avenue. Pop art is a move in that direction. Why can't we have advertisements with beautiful words and beautiful images?'
- William S. Burroughs

Yes, Bill. In fact, the ads Mad Men and women were creating when you said that (mid-60s?) remain some of the most beautiful made, in my eyes....the sharp, swinging, cool creations of that era...mmm...yes...

...Pop art revelled in product, in print, in graphics...a revolt into style as opposed to what the old Cedar Tavern mob of painters had done, all that expression in paint by the roaring (drunk) boys - huh - but how about turning style into revolt? Was the great Americana billboard splash colour courting of commerce really only that? A homage to materialism? No, it wasn't. And you don't need me to tell you that...

...so to Tate Modern and The EY Exhibition: The World Goes Pop...standing in the middle of one of the largest rooms I look around - it strikes me as being akin to a funfair perhaps, subconsciously, because London Pop art stars visited one in Ken Russell's Pop Goes The Easel? Look at all the colour! The freaky objects and wacky graphics! All being enjoyed by a substantial crowd of mostly young folk..."Roll up! Roll up!" Pop art's so easy to 'get', after all...isn't it? But like any great Pop song worth it's lyrical salt, the surface (melody) is only that....

...if Pop USA and UK played double bluff; was bold and apparently empty-but-saying-a-lot-more, this show with it's worldwide artists puts Politics upfront...

...but first, here's Marisol with her Mum...

My Mum and I, Marisol, 1968

...Öyvind Fahlström's film, Mao-Hope March (1966), is also screened...

"Are you happy generally?"
"Oh yes, I love the television."
"What makes you happy?"
"Television, because I'm very lonesome without..."

I'd never heard of this great vox Pop snapshot unintentional satire of American life, the bewilderment expressed by some at the site of Icon of the Free, Bob Hope twinned with Evil Commie, Mao - brilliant...