Maybe Grantanow upset the wolves too 
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To think this so called art exhibition in Margate is nothing short of a hate crime
(240 Posts)We've been down this road before with the so-called banker cartoons, distinct and insulting caricatures of Jewish men depicted getting rich with their feet on supposed ground down subjugated workers. Now here we are again, how is it even allowed? Jews, or Zionists if you prefer, are represented in the most racist and anti semitic way possible. For instance, the Jewish owner of Southeby's eating a baby, next to the words "Hey look I'm selling a fantastic painting while eating a baby alive"
At a time of a resurgence of unfettered prejudice against our Jewish community, always in the firing line and collectively targeted for all the ills the Israeli government has inflicted on Gaza, this timely exhibition, "Drawings Against Genocide" arrives at the gallery almost simultaneously with the Golders Green attack. Unbelievable hate filled tropes that have been passed down through history time again and again. Would it be tolerated against any other demographic? for example, different genocides, such as the one going on in Sudan, the rage level for those other atrocities where are they? and how would the supporters of this exhibition react if the perpetrators of similar acts of ethnic cleansing/genocide were cast in such a way to slur an entire race or ethnicity?
*Thread title edited by GNHQ to reflect the fact the exhibition is not at the Tate gallery*
Obviously the post was derogatory. Each to his own of course, but I disagree.
Thanet has some interesting historical towns, pretty villages and some lovely beaches. Especially Broadstairs.
It’s my favourite day out.
As a proud resident of Broadstairs, I, too, am awaiting an explanation from Grantanow.
Allira
We need Grantanow to explain 🙂
We do, but I suspect we shouldn't hold our breath while waiting.......
We need Grantanow to explain 🙂
Oreo
It’s a Reform led Council isn’t it?
No it’s Labour.
Kent County Council is Reform
It’s a Reform led Council isn’t it?
😂
Well this is how slow I am this morning. I thought thanet must be a poster who had said something profound.
Grantanow
Thanet: says it all.
Not quite sure what this comment means?
I live in Thanet (Margate)
Born in Thanet & have lived here all my life
I love it
Beach 5 minutes walk away & countryside on my doorstep
Also have the high speed train to London
Yes there are far better/worse places to live
Quote Allira Sun 05-Apr-26 11:04:20
Charles Dickens?
Silly me, assuming everyone read Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens?
Grantanow: "Thanet: says it all".
Lost on me....
Grantanow
Thanet: says it all.
Thanet doesn't say anything to me 🤔
Not even a whisper
Thanet: says it all.
foxie48
I'm not much of an art critic but it is said that good art divides opinion, fwiw I'm not saying MC's art is good or that he is not anti semitic, he might be both or neither and that's the point really!
That's why we're debating, yes! 😂
It's all a matter of perception.
foxie48
I'm not much of an art critic but it is said that good art divides opinion, fwiw I'm not saying MC's art is good or that he is not anti semitic, he might be both or neither and that's the point really!
I think he isn’t any good as an artist and is antisemitic to boot.
Other opinions may vary😂
LemonJam
The law is clear- anti- Zionism is NOT antisemitism.
Absolutely right! It is also perfectly legitimate to support Zionism but not the present Israeli government, which is the position that many Jews both living in Israel and the diaspora take.
I'm not much of an art critic but it is said that good art divides opinion, fwiw I'm not saying MC's art is good or that he is not anti semitic, he might be both or neither and that's the point really!
The law is clear- anti- Zionism is NOT antisemitism.
Oh really?
I count eight different named accounts which have edited the Wiki page since this controversy started.
JeffSpaceman, Headhitter, Jontel, JezGrove, Alaexis, OcularDelusion, Agacat and AnomieBOT.
Which is Collings, what were his revisions and how do you know it’s him?
Yes, people are free to make their minds up. MC was suspended from the Labour Party in 2019 by Corbyn. MC dismissed allegations of a comment he made perceived to be anti- semitic as a "witch hunt"- parallel/similar to allegations about his art exhibition in Kent. As an aside, Corbyn himself was suspended from the Labour Party the following year and in 2023 banned from standing as a Labour candidate due to a row over anti semitism.
Matthew Collings is not new to such criticism about his genocide and Zionist art or his anti Zionist comments. Zionism is a political issue hence why the police found no evidence of a crime in the Kent art show as expressing views in any form, including art is protected under UK freedom of speech laws.
MC also had a November 2025 art exhibition that was taken down three weeks early. Art critic Waldemar Januszczak said of that MC art exhibition "One of those rare art displays as it's doing something art has never done before in ways that have never been previously tried" He then corrected himself and said "had" an exhibition "until the Israel lobby decided it didn't like it and began to make trouble. They allegedly threatened the owner of the gallery, the owner of the building that houses the gallery and Collings himself. The Zionist bullying machine rarely misses an opportunity".
There you have it- on the one hand is an opinion of the existence a Zionist bullying machine- and those accused of such bullying perceive themselves to be fighting anti semitism. The law is clear that Zionism is a political issue not a racist issue- protected by free speech laws, again the reason why the Kent police found no evidence of any crime committed.
The art critic of the Sunday Times had given MC's exhibition a rave review and thought that Collings should get a Turner prize for it. The former director of Tate Britain was also approving.
See full article titled "Raved-about art show closed by gallery owner after Israel lobby attacks and threats by Skwawkbox 30/11/25 on the canary.co.
The exhibition contained a drawing showing a sign a Zionist had written about a previous exhibition by Collings.[failed verification]
He has obviously written his own Wiki entry and, of course, it will be biased.
There is no proof that a Zionist had written the sign an, in fact, anyone outraged by the display of anti-semitism could have written it.
I have. For example he was suspended from the labour party ( under corbyn) but yes people are free to make their minds up.
MC has had an interesting and fairly illustrious career which has helped a number of artists, some of whom are Jewish. Below is the last paragraph of his Wiki entry.
"In 2026, hundreds of works by Matthew Collings criticizing Zionism and genocide in Gaza were presented at an exhibition in Margate, Kent. The exhibition contained a drawing showing a sign a Zionist had written about a previous exhibition by Collings.[failed verification] This sign read “Antisemitic art exhibition this way” and was taped to the frame of a bicycle outside the gallery. Collings showed himself in the drawing, passing the bike and nonplussed by the sign. Critics claimed the drawings in Margate contained antisemitic tropes, including depicting Jewish people eating babies. Collings denied the antisemitic interpretation. He said there were no such images in the show. Kent Police determined the drawings broke no criminal laws and were not antisemitic but criticised the state of Israel."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Collings
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