Artwork removed from National Portrait Gallery after Churchill row

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA video installation by Turner Prize winner Helen Cammock, titled "Persistence", has been removed from the National Portrait Gallery following controversy over its depiction of Winston Churchill's role in the 1943 Bengal famine. The 40-minute film claimed Churchill was responsible for "the wilful starvation of the Indian population", drawing parallels with Oliver Cromwell's 17th-century military campaigns. Churchill biographer Lord Andrew Roberts led an open letter, signed by over 50 peers including Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames, challenging these claims as a "bare-faced lie" and "historically ludicrous", asserting the famine was caused by a typhoon and Churchill sought aid. Cammock stated she made the decision to "withdraw" the piece, expressing concern about external pressure on artists and emphasising art's role in questioning and exploring histories, rather than being a documentary. The National Portrait Gallery confirmed Cammock's decision, noting the work was presented as an artistic piece and that the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the institution, while respecting artistic expression. In fullArtist withdraws National Portrait Gallery installation after Winston Churchill famine rowThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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