I Object: Ian Hislop’s Search for Dissent

History: the stories of the past we tell ourselves amidst the shaping of narrative for future generations. Who decides the official version of events? All over the world people visit monuments to deities of an age gone by, hoping for a glimpse into an unknown world; a story told by the winners, the kings, the rulers. But what of the narrative surrounding the everyday man and his family? Who speaks for the people who protested against their government, the people who would risk certain death to express their beliefs?
In want of these forgotten stories, The British Museum has asked Private Eye editor Ian Hislop to search through their collection for suitable objects of dissent. Ranging from Ancient Babylonian Graffiti to a particularly wicked copy of Exodus in The Holy Bible, this amalgamation of over 100 objects contains items which have been hidden in plain sight throughout the ages. One such item is the Stonyhurst salt cellar: designed in 1577 during a time where Catholic worship was banned, this deceptive salt cellar had a hidden role as a former piece of Catholic ornamentation.
Upon closer inspection you can clearly see it is crafted in silver, decorated with rock crystal -reminiscent of Christ’s purity- and adorned with rubies that look like drops of blood. This representation of unorthodox views is reflective of a society that has questioned the way things were in order to encourage change, the premise of which we can live by today, the very nature of which makes us human.
This exhibition is also paired with a three-part series on BBC Radio 4.
Until 20 Jan 2019
The British Museum,
Great Russell Street,
London,
WC1B 3DG
> Laura Pugh