£1,500 - £2,500
Tim Ruth, British Bulldogs, from "Hope-Free: The Writings on the Wall" series, mixed media, spray paint over printed flags, in a unique intricate handmade frame by David Apps decorated with aircraft soldiers chains and pearls, overall frame dimensions 110cm x 102cm
Information Provided by vendor :- “British Bulldogs” by Tim Ruth: A Masterpiece from “Hope-Free: The Writings on the Wall”
"British Bulldogs" embodies the ‘hope-free’ ethos of Tim Ruth’s groundbreaking series, stepping beyond the emotional highs and lows that define modern culture. As Stephen Jenkins aptly describes, hope is "the crack-cocaine of modern culture"—an addictive illusion that keeps us oscillating between hopefulness and hopelessness. Ruth rejects this cycle, presenting the melting pound sign as a fading fiction, no longer worthy of our emotional investment. Neither hoping for economic salvation nor despairing over its collapse, this piece offers a clear-eyed view of money’s role in conflict and confinement, inviting viewers to detox from the promises that have shaped our world. Framed in David Apps’ ornate War, this painting juxtaposes historical grandeur with contemporary disillusionment, making it a profound statement for our times."
A Provocative Icon of Our Time
"British Bulldogs" stands as the iconic figurehead of Tim Ruth’s series, Hope-Free: The Writings on the Wall. This collection dares to recontextualise the symbols that shape modern civilization, peeling back layers of meaning from images so familiar they often go unnoticed. At its heart is The Flag of All Flags—a modern evolution of the Union Jack, reimagined as a vibrant mosaic of 208 flags representing the languages and dialects of the world. This design celebrates English as the global lingua franca, a unifying thread weaving together diverse cultures, yet Ruth uses it as a canvas to probe deeper truths about power, conflict, and the fragility of our systems.
A Frame Steeped in History and Meaning
The painting is encased in an original frame titled War, crafted by renowned artist David Apps, whose work is celebrated in its own right. Apps, known for his photography and ornate sculptural frames, documented the transformation of London around the Olympics’ site while incidentally capturing East London’s street art scene in his now-collectible book East End, including the ascendance of figures like Banksy. His frame—a baroque masterpiece laden with symbolic weight—sets the tone for Ruth’s exploration, evoking the grandeur and conflict of history while framing the painting as a relic of our times.
The Great British Pound: A Melting Symbol of Power
At the centre of "British Bulldogs" is the Great British Pound (£) symbol, rendered in a dripping, golden hue that appears to melt over The Flag of All Flags. This iconic sign, with its two bars harking back to the pre-gold-standard era, carries centuries of meaning. Originating from the Latin libra pondo—a unit of weight in the Roman Empire meaning "pound by weight"—the pound symbol derives from the letter "L," tied to scales, balance, and justice. Yet its deeper roots trace back to a glyph of a cattle-prod or shepherd’s crook, an inverted "J" symbolizing manipulation and control.
Ruth’s melting pound sign speaks to a world in flux. Once as "good as gold," backed by the banker’s promise to "pay the bearer upon request," the pound now faces an uncertain future. As we stand on the brink of global digital currencies, Bitcoin, or a return to gold-backed systems, the symbol’s disintegration foretells a seismic shift in the monetary systems that have shaped the last few centuries. The dripping effect suggests decay—a poignant commentary on the fading trust in the abstract, fictional nature of money, divorced from tangible reality yet all-pervasive in its dominance.
The pound, tied to British economic power and the spread of English, represents an addictive hope. By depicting it as melting, Ruth steps outside this cycle—neither hoping for a return to the gold standard nor despairing over economic collapse, but showing the pound as a fading fiction, no longer worthy of emotional investment.
A Meditation on Conflict and Confinement
The title "British Bulldogs" invokes the bulldog’s symbolic tenacity, a hallmark of British identity often tied to imperial might. But Ruth subverts this image, using the pound to explore the darker side of this strength. A pound, after all, is not just currency—it’s an "enclosure for stray animals," a "place of confinement." Its linguistic roots evoke "pounding"—the sound of relentless strikes, whether the forces of order raiding a home, an undertaker sealing a coffin, or the will of a people resisting the "tax farms" they inhabit. Ruth asks: whose coffin is being pounded shut? Is this the end of an old world, or the birth of a new one?
The painting resonates with the adage "All wars are banker’s wars," reflecting on money’s role as a driver of conflict. The pound sign, used by over thirty countries and colonies, has long been a global standard of value, yet Ruth reveals its cost: a commodification of culture, a divorce from nature, and a war within human hearts. Overlaid on The Flag of All Flags, the melting pound suggests that economic forces have stained the linguistic diversity it represents, threatening the 208 languages and dialects beneath.
A Timeless Statement for Today’s World
"British Bulldogs" is a profound meditation on the intersections of money, language, and power, encapsulated in a single, striking image. The melting pound sign, framed by Apps’ War, serves as a "writing on the wall"—a prophetic warning of systemic collapse and a call to reflect on the fictional nature of the systems we take for granted. Yet beneath the decay, the vibrant flags endure, a testament to the resilience of human expression.
This artwork is not just a painting; it’s a conversation starter, a collector’s treasure, and a mirror to our times. Its multi-layered symbolism—spanning history, economics, and culture—ensures it will remain a talking point for generations. Perfect for collectors of contemporary art, history enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a piece that captures the zeitgeist of our global moment, "British Bulldogs" is a rare opportunity to own a work that challenges, provokes, and inspires.
Invest in a Legacy
Don’t miss your chance to own this iconic piece from Tim Ruth’s Hope-Free: The Writings on the Wall series. "British Bulldogs" is a bold statement on the forces shaping our world—past, present, and future. Contact us today to bring this masterpiece into your collection.
HOPE-FREE: THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL
Tim Ruth’s ‘hope-free’ ethos is a radical rejection of the emotional oscillation between hope and hopelessness that defines modern culture. Drawing on Stephen Jenkins’ metaphor of hope as ‘the crack-cocaine of modern culture,’
This interpretation of "hope-free" as a state beyond the hope-hopelessness cycle adds a profound philosophical layer to Ruth’s series. It positions the artworks as not just critiques of specific systems (economic, linguistic) but as broader reflections on how we engage with the world emotionally and culturally. The "hope-free" stance, paired with Jenkins’ metaphor, suggests that Ruth is urging us to step outside the addictive patterns of modern culture—whether it’s hoping in money, language, or empathy—and face reality with clear eyes.
"Hope-Free" as a Cultural Detox
Stephen Jenkins’ metaphor of hope as "the crack-cocaine of modern culture" paints hope as an addictive substance that keeps society in a cycle of emotional dependency. To be "hope-free," then, is to detox from this addiction to achieve a state of clarity or neutrality. This can evoke a sense of relief or even empowerment for viewers, as it validates the exhaustion of constantly hoping for change through empathy, offering instead a space to simply feel and reflect.
The "hope-free" series offers a philosophical critique, challenging viewers to rethink their relationship with hope in modern culture. It aligns with existential or postmodern themes, appealing to those who appreciate art that questions societal norms.
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