Property is Speech
Tearing down Edward Colston’s statue conceals the past and suppresses the speech of the dead
How artivism captured the ICA – and why the Arts Council is to blame
If the Institute of Contemporary Arts wants to be in the vanguard of “social justice” activism, should it be in receipt of public money and should it retain its charitable status?
Belgian light amid the gloom
The work of two fine artists is gaining belated and well-deserved recognition
True Feminism has Never Been Tried, Comrade
Alexander Adams reviews Women Can’t Paint by Helen Gørrill
Picturing Colonial Africa
Alexander Adams reviews Postcards from Africa: Photographs of the Colonial Era, by Christraud M. Geary
Hidden London
Hidden London’s evocative photos of dereliction will fascinate commuters and tourists alike
Banksy and the triumph of banality
How the shallow culture warrior hoodwinked a generation
Airline Maps: A century of art and design
An enjoyable visual book that acts as a history of aviation
Cancel the Turner
It looks like it was made by artists who don’t like art and chosen by judges who don’t either
Painting by numbers
Alexander Adams counts the cost of female artistic success
Charlie’s cardboard feminists fall flat
Bad jokes, no chemisty, lame action: the snoozathon that’s not woke enough
An appreciation of the late John Simon
Andrew Cusack remembers the apotheosis of criticism
Sharing the pleasure in poetry
James Booth reviews ‘Somewhere Becoming Rain: Collected Writings on Philip Larkin’
What does Labour’s new team mean for Brexit?
Sir Keir purges traces of Brexit sympathy from his front bench
Culture Coaches
As The Critic enters into the podcasting business, Dominic Green surveys the world of motivational, self-affirming podcasts
The local food revival
Felipe Fernández-Armesto rejoices in the pleasures and comforts of traditional food