ISIS IN SYLVANIA BOARD BOOK- 100 copies only/first edition
A limited edition artwork by Mimsy, depicting the complete series of formally banned 'ISIS in Sylvania' images in a baby board book.
Tite: ISIS IN SYLVANIA
Artist: Mimsy
Created: between 2015-2017
Description: Baby Board book, full colour boards. Edition: 100/ signed and numbered
ISIS in Sylvania is a satirical artwork first created in 2015 by the British artist Mimsy. Each of the 12 panoramic images depicts an unfolding conflict between militant Sylvanian jihadists and peaceful forest dwelling civilians. Bound together as a wordless baby picture book, the art work is a satirical comment on both Jihadist terrorism, and its western response.
A brief history
The original four artworks were shown as work-in-progress light boxes at the Art 15 fair in London. A special illustrated wallpaper was also created by the artist for their display, and now features on the cover of the book. Over the following months they were selected by the ‘Passion for freedom’ team to be displayed at a show discussing artistic freedom in the west. Ironically, It was here that they were threatened with censorship by the hosting gallery and the Met police.The artist was asked to pay 30k for 'security costs,' and told the work 'wasn't real art' by the met police.
Claire Armistead of The Guardian wrote about the censorship of the work here, a piece that quickly went viral. From across the political spectrum, there came a broad move to criticise this state instigated censorship. Every national newspaper from The Daily Mail to The Guardian and The Independent, condemned the move to censor the satirical work.
The following year, the work was featured on Channel 4's Trevor Philips documentary 'Has political corectness gone mad?' In a move against censorship, the works-in-progress were displayed in a pop up gallery in Gilette square, Dalston.
After a period of reflection away from the work, the artist went back to her studio and created more images, with the aim of creating a final printed book. The edition was pressed, and are available for art collectors and freedom advocates all over the world.
LEGAL NOTE: ISIS IN Sylvania is a satirical fine art work, and is not available in shops. It is not associated with the Sylvanian brand in any way, and is not attempting to either pass of as a Sylvanian product, nor tarnish the brand. The artist cites the change in British law to protect satire, parody and pastiche as grounds for making the work.
