Fury as British art exhibition ‘shows Jews eating babies’
A controversial art exhibition in Margate has sparked outrage after a Jewish visitor claimed he was ‘stalked’ by an ‘offensive’ artist amid accusations the exhibition contained antisemitic and Nazi imagery.
The exhibition, titled Drawings Against the Holocaust, was reported to the police following complaints that Jews were depicted using offensive stereotypes and provocative symbolism linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Eyewitnesses described “ugly” and “aggressive” scenes on Saturday, when tensions increased inside the venue and visitors confronted the artist and other participants.
Critics say the artwork includes repeated use of the Star of David around figures depicted as Israelis and members of the so-called “Jewish lobby”; these images were widely condemned as anti-Semitic.
Some participants were also reported to be wearing ‘globalize the intifada’ t-shirts, which are often interpreted as a slogan endorsing violence against Jews.
Writer Zoe Strimpel, who participated in the exhibition, described the deeply saddening encounter in detail on social media.
She wrote: ‘My cheeks are red. I’m shaking. I came across an exhibition that became the crazy fever dream of an artist named Matthew Collins: “Drawings Against Genocide.”
The exhibition, titled Drawings Against the Holocaust, was reported to the police following complaints that it depicted Jews using offensive stereotypes.
Critics say the artwork includes repeated use of the Star of David around figures depicted as Israelis and members of the so-called ‘Jewish lobby’.
Some pictures also included Nazi images.
‘The exhibition is described as “drawings… that raise awareness of hell… Israel, a pure epitome of it.”
‘Zionism is the dominant ideology of this terrorist state.’
Shocked by the use of Nazi imagery, the room filled with the Star of David pasted around figures thought to be Israeli and the blood-spewing Jewish ‘lobby’, not to mention blond yummy mummies wearing ‘globalise the intifada’ shirts, I spoke to the artist to share my reaction as a Jew.
‘He instantly became aggressive. When I started to say that I was shocked and threatened because what I saw was Nazi imagery, the artist started yelling at me, saying I didn’t mean anything I said.
‘Whenever I tried to speak (calmly) he said: ‘You don’t mean any of what you say’, you are just repeating ‘hasbarah speeches’ because you are ‘advocating genocide’. He shouted in my face many times.
‘I said: ‘If I were a Black person…’ but I couldn’t finish the sentence because: ‘you’re not, are you?’ On the point of Nazi ideology, he said: “Yes. Why do you think you are there? Israel is the Nazis.”
‘His breathing was disgusting. The crowd started booing and closing in on me, trying to get me out. I said: “Okay, take the Jew out” and he shouted at me even more from across the room, repeatedly taunting me “call the police, go ahead, call the police”.
‘I said I would do it and it’s the community safety trust that looks like the devil in its display. This became even more of a laughing stock. The last thing I heard before leaving was “Yes, call CST.”
‘Someone took a photo of me while I was being shouted at. The short video features the artist. The long video of our last conversation, which was almost surrealistically disgusting, was not recorded.’
The controversy also raised questions about the promotion of the exhibition, which appeared on a tourism website run by Thanet District Council.
The exhibition is the work of 70-year-old artist Matthew Collings, who was present during the conflict.
Eyewitnesses described ‘ugly’ and ‘aggressive’ scenes on Saturday as tensions increased within the venue and visitors confronted the artist and other participants.
His post quickly gained widespread support online, with many prominent figures condemning the display.
Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman wrote: ‘Disgusting.’
Michael Gove added: ‘It’s truly awful.’
Others echoed the outrage, with one commenter saying: ‘Vile people. It’s a disgusting sight. ‘I’m so sorry you had to put up with this.’
Ben Goldsmith wrote: ‘Disgusting and not at all surprising.’
Author Alex Hearn also criticized the exhibition, claiming that it ‘portrayed Jews as blood-soaked, baby-eating demons who control the British government’.
He added: ‘He really enjoys being racist.’
The controversy also raised questions about the promotion of the exhibition, which appeared on a tourism website run by Thanet District Council.
Hearn said: ‘Thanet District Council should be absolutely ashamed.’
The exhibition is the work of 70-year-old artist Matthew Collings, who was present during the conflict.
In images shared on social media, he is seen speaking at the event in front of a sign that reads ‘Resistance until liberation’.
Collings and Thanet District Council has been approached for comment.
