Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules

Through 6 March 2022
London

Don’t miss your last chance to see Somerset House’s on classic British comic the Beano and its spirit of rebellion!

Step into the pages of the comic and take a trip into Beanotown to explore how this beloved icon of British comics has fired up successive generations to break the rules, while discovering artists who push boundaries in their own original and wonderful ways.

Come face-to-face with the Beano gang—including Dennis and Gnasher, Minnie the Minx, Bananaman and the Bash Street Kids—through original comic artwork and amazing artefacts, plundered from the Beano’s archive.

The exhibition is curated by artist and lifelong Beano fan Andy Holden, who gathers today’s greatest creative rule-breakers, including writers, musicians, painters, sculptors and photographers. Each creative revels in their own spirit of rebellion and contributors include Sarah Lucas, Hardeep Pandhal, Phyllida Barlow, pop star Chris Sievey (otherwise known by his alter-ego Frank Sidebottom), Martin Creed, Alex Chinneck, Heather Phillipson, Ryan Gander, Jann Haworth, Emma Hart, editorial cartoonist Martin Rowson, Rene Matić, Bedwyr Williams and many more. New works include a recording featuring young fiction writer Alex Wheatle, a comic strip from artist Nicola Lane and a neon sculpture from Simeon Barclay.

Through 6 March 2022. Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA.

Book tickets now—only a few weeks left to go!