'˜Godfather of British pop art' donates unusual painting to Rye charity

Legendary British pop artist Sir Peter Blake is donating one of his latest and most unusual pictures '˜The Arrival of the Smart Meters' to ARRCC charity in Rye.
Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Photo courtesy of Smart Energy GB.Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Photo courtesy of Smart Energy GB.
Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Photo courtesy of Smart Energy GB.

Smart meters will be offered to every household in the UK by 2020 as part of the digitalisation of our national energy system, bringing an end to estimated bills and showing us what we’re spending on energy in near-real time in pounds and pence.

ARRCC will receive an original print from the ‘Godfather of British Pop Art’, famous for work including the design of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

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The charity, which provides support, advice and training opportunities through art for physically and sensory impaired adults, the elderly and those living with dementia, will be given one of just 30 signed prints that are being donated to charities, universities and community projects across the country.

Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001
Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001

‘The Arrival of the Smart Meters’ was created by Sir Peter to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. The picture takes inspiration from the smart meter in-home displays that show households how much energy they are using in pounds and pence. The picture transforms the displays into colourful people, representing the army of smart meter installers bringing this new technology to every home in the country.

All 30 prints have been on display in the White Cloth Gallery in Leeds for the last month. Sir Peter Blake said: “I took inspiration for my latest work from the artist Saul Steinberg, who gave new meaning to everyday objects.

“In this case the smart meters suggested little bodies to me, so I turned them into people, symbolising the installers who are fitting the meters into every home in Great Britain. I love that something that can be seen as rather workaday is being introduced with art, and ‘Arrival of the Smart Meters’ is an interesting way of highlighting its national significance.”

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Grace O’Neill, chief execuive at ARRCC said:”It was a great privilege to be selected to receive an original signed print from Sir Peter Blake in recognition of ARRCC’s work - ‘Wellbeing through Arts’ - with physically and sensory impaired adults, the elderly and those living with dementia.

Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001
Sir Peter Blake has unveiled his latest and most unusual piece of pop art to date to mark the coming of smart meters to every home in Great Britain. Copyright: © Smart Energy GB SUS-170221-112142001

“Our members are encouraged and supported to take part in a wide range of arts workshops, which include oil painting, mosaics, ceramics and crafts. It is proven that practising arts assists in the health and wellbeing of people who experience mental or physical health problems, and builds confidence.”

For more information the national smart meter rollout visit www.smartenergyGB.org.

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