Dazzling Gilbert & George show celebrates London through iconic newspaper posters ‘We live what we see and we see what we love’

By Emma Guiness

The dynamic duo of contemporary art, Gilbert and George, opened a new show to celebrate London through their interpretation of iconic newspaper posters which once defined the capital.

Described as a “moral portrait of our times”, the exhibition showcases a variety of newspaper headlines detailing issues that have plagued the city.

The giant collage images were displayed at their own museum in the East End and celebrated the way news on the streets of London captured the zeitgeist of the city from sex scandals to crime sensation and diversity.

The pictures were taken from a whopping 3,712 newspaper posters that the pair stole, sorted and classified over their decades-long career.

The legendary pop art pair who have worked and lived together for half a century showed also their recent graffiti wash paintings celebrating their mantra Love For All alongside images marking the start of the reign of King Charles.

“London is about all there is in life: sex, comedy, base and beautiful stuff. More sex! It is all in front of us and to be celebrated,” George told The Independent.

Art dealers from Europe and the UK including the art gallery doyens, Jay Jopling and Thaddaeus Ropac attended the opening of the show at the art venue in Heneage Street, off Brick Lane.

The exhibition has attracted more than 40,000 visitors since it opened.

Also at the show was Britain’s most celebrated woman artist Tracey Emin who once lived in the same street where Gilbert and George have lived for more than 50 years.