Gilbert & George

Gilbert & George’s approach to art has always been anti-elitist. Adopting the slogan “art for all”, they aimed to be relevant beyond the narrow confines of the art world. The artists believe that everything is potential subject matter for their art, and they have always explored social issues, taboos and artistic conventions.

They quickly became experts in the art of offending, with one of their first notable works of art being a photographic self-portrait of them wearing their trademark suits. George the Cunt and Gilbert the Shit was so titled in order to pre-empt criticism. A strategy unthinkable today.

For its Delete issue, Beauty Papers asked their one-time assistant Jake Chapman to talk with them about their processes and particularities, the merging of two minds to create one art.