Bill Drummond begins 12-year world tour at Eastside Projects, Birmingham

Bill Drummond raft bed with daffodils
An exhibition has opened in Birmingham which is then going on the longest-ever art world tour, ending back in Birmingham on 28 April 2025 – if the artist does not die beforehand, as the publicity materials dryly state.
Bill Drummond is 60, and his name to me and others of a certain age will always be synonymous with a bunch of KLF hit records of the late 1980s and early 1990s, 3am Eternal, Justified and Ancient and others from The White Room, classics of their time.
But Drummond’s life since then has become almost an eternal art performance, and this exhibition which stays in Birmingham until June 14 will see him taking part in many strange acts involving people around the city.


He arrived in Birmingham on a raft made from what was described as his bed, but looked like a fairly rough wooden frame. He then created a sculpture of 400 bunches of daffodils under Spaghetti junction and carried 40 bunches to the town hall, where he gave them away to complete strangers.
The exhibition opening at the Eastside Projects gallery in Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham, was a strange affair. It strikes me that Drummond is very keen on exercising control.
He decided that from January 2012 he was only going to do 25 more interviews for 25 different publications, with the journalists only allowed to ask four questions each – this is in the rest of his life, so no interviews at the opening, though he was happily chatting to many people.
He also wrote his own piece for the Birmingham Post explaining his interest in the city and in Spaghetti Junction in particular.
At the opening he clambered on to his work desk, in the middle of the exhibition, to welcome everyone and thank them from coming – and didn’t start until the last person had been dragged out of the bar to hear him!
Another item in the exhibition is a screen with Drummond giving his 60-second opinion on various topics which he’s been asked to appear on TV to talk about but has refused – again showing him controlling what he can say without any awkward questions. Though the films are quite entertaining.
The exhibition’s most striking part is the huge house of cards made up of his paintings – more realistically placards of one or more words, painted Bob and Roberta-Smith style – which is as high as the ceiling in this large industrial space.
The 25 Paintings describe the acts he will be carrying out while in Birmingham, and then in other cities around the world while the tour progresses, including Berlin, Guangzhou, Memphis, Kolkata and Port-au-Prince. At the opening while asking people not to knock it over, he said he couldn’t wait for it to be in another venue where he could do just that.
His workdesk has been set up in the gallery, and one wall shows more paintings, and The 60 Posters explain aspects of his life, past work and plans for this world tour.
Local residents can look forward to being cooked soup, as well as cakes, and being able to borrow his boots to walk a mile, and may already have heard him around the city in the guise of The Man Who Blows His Horn and The Man Who Bangs His Drum.
He will also be working in the gallery, painting or knitting squares, on various dates during the exhibition where visitors will be able to meet him and talk to him about his work – details on his website here http://www.penkilnburn.com/events/events.php
It’s Conceptual stuff with a capital C, and my companion at the opening felt the influence of Yoko Ono, or at least a similarity with her work. However, it’s also quite good fun, so dip in, go see it and become part of the work.

3,824 comments

  1. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button!
    I’d definitely donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to brand new updates and will share this
    site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

    Like

  2. This design is steller! You certainly know how to kesp a
    reader amused.Between yoiur wit and your videos, I was
    almost moved to stat my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, hhow
    you presented it. Too cool!

    Like

  3. Hello my lߋved one! I wisҺ tо say thаt this post is awesߋme, niice written and include appгoximately all vital іnfos.
    I would like to look extra posts like this .

    Like

  4. The eyebrow works as a shield when directly facing
    the sign and a hat can also protect the eyes to a degree, but when you add reflected light into the equation, the protection is simply not enough.
    These sites are honest enough to let you know upfront that what you are buying is a pair of replica Oakley sunglasses.
    In the previous section we looked at several kiddy-level homemade spy
    gadgets.

    Like

  5. I used to be suggested this web site through my cousin. I’m no longer sure whether this
    submit is written by means of him as nno one else recognise such precise approximately my
    difficulty. You are amazing!Thanks!

    Like

  6. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a
    25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now
    broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had
    to share it with someone!

    Like

  7. Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I
    was wondering your situation; many of us have developed some nice practices and we are looking to trade solutions with others,
    be sure to shoot me an email if interested.

    Like

  8. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I
    realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad
    I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!

    Like

  9. You actually make it appear so easy together with your presentation however I find
    this topic to be actually something which I think I would by no means understand.
    It sort of feels too complex and extremely vast
    for me. I am looking forward in your next post, I will
    try to get the grasp of it!

    Like

  10. This app is available for all Black – Berry versions and is very easy
    to navigate and use due to its very user friendly interface.
    If your child is a little older, then they may
    like Sesame Street themes that have Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and other characters in it.
    Greg Leverich talks about Restaurants in Lancashire.

    Like

  11. This design is spectacular! You most certainly know
    how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your
    videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that,
    how you presented it. Too cool!

    Like

  12. Models shone in variations on tailored black jackets over black satin and
    lace corsetry. One can even opt for sunglasses with double lenses and vented frames in order to minimize
    condensation and fogging. 00, but with a set of cheap sunglasses, say
    roughly costing typically £15.

    Like

  13. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence
    on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving
    us something informative to read?

    Like

  14. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
    I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few
    interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I want to read even more things about it!

    Like

  15. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
    A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make
    my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
    Thanks

    Like

  16. gucci handbags outlet
    I am curious to find out what blog system you are using?
    I’m having some small security problems with
    my latest website and I’d like to find something more
    safe. Do you have any recommendations?

    Like

  17. I am heading to select mine up immediately simply because I can consider there will probably be extra selections in comparison to soon after the start.
    Automobile chargers don’t seem to be extremely new.
    Therefore, one can imagine that the new i – Phone 5 will be more
    powerful and rich application that the previous i – Phone 4.

    Like

  18. In addition to being a raspberry ketone fat burner instead of a sugar burner.
    Other research suggests that combining protein, carbohydrate and
    a bit of bulk too your chest, shoulders and arms, or a section of fruit.
    You ought to consume this doseage 2 times a day. That means players can be tested when their raspberry ketone behavior or physical symptoms suggest drug use.

    Like

  19. This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
    I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking
    more of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

    Like

  20. Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My website looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone.
    I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
    If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Thank you!

    Like

  21. Finally, use the “ed” command to edit registry
    entries on the spot. Use of this fat burning supplement have reported lose of
    ten to twenty pounds of weight within one month time period.
    This is one misconception about nearly all slimming supplements and fat burners in particular.

    Like

  22. Hello I am so happy I found your weblog, I really found you by error,
    while I was looking on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just
    like to say thanks for a fantastic post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included
    your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

    Like

  23. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it
    for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u
    got this from. appreciate it

    Like

  24. I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced to your post.
    They are really convincing and can certainly work.
    Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for newbies.
    May you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time?
    Thanks for the post.

    Like

  25. Pretty component to content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to claim that
    I acquire actually loved account your weblog posts. Any
    way I’ll be subscribing for your feeds and even I achievement you
    access persistently quickly.

    Like

  26. The worse thing you can doo iss tto numb them away աith coffee.
    Instead ߋf using a large dinner plate,uѕе a smalleг salad
    pate for еach meal. The caalorie deficit prompts thee body tо
    breakdown іts fat reserves, ɑnd this lleads tοo a loss of weight.

    Like

  27. For the red cabbage, place the crème de cassis, red wine, orange zest raapberry
    ketone and thyme in a pan. You can make your boddy realize
    that there is something we do every day. The
    supplement must be affordable while not compromising on the substances, and
    topped with a lower-unwanted fat dressing, is fast to make and quie filling.
    Pass the mash through a siueve andd set aside in a warm place until doubled in size 2 hours.

    Like

  28. Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months
    of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?

    Like

Leave a reply to hack jjj Cancel reply