Artist exploring hypocrisies in the weaponised world. Evoking experience of surprised recognition: to show viewers what he knows but does not know that he knows.

Guns have long had an extraordinary and terrible influence over us. There are those who glorify them, and those who suffer by them. McCrow captures this polarising behaviour and brings the subject into the 21st Century; to look beyond their new representation to acknowledge the dark story weapons carry with them; to challenge our sanitised view of weaponry, our reaction to their being in front of us and with that our own morality.

In 2011 McCrow’s close friend lost both legs and an arm in an explosion whilst serving as a Royal Marines Commando in Afghanistan. It was one of the catalysts that turned a distinct fascination with guns and weaponry into questions about individual purpose, morality, hidden stories, and the ability of one person to make a difference.

Today the global arms trade is worth excess of $XT a year; ( it is said that we each spend $249 on actual war. ) Arms are supplied from the richer nations to the poorer nations. (800,000 million small arms). Is it a surprise to anyone that increase fatalities are in line with increased arms sales?

A guns first stop is rarely its last.

Eventually after years of conflict, many small arms end up in unsecured or poorly managed stockpiles. Left unchecked, they continue to be a direct threat to local people, as illicit armed groups continue to steal, smuggle and sell around 1 million weapons a year.

Destruction of these surplus and illicit stockpiles ends the cycle of that gun’s violence. It saves lives and stabilises communities.

War is ours, we buy it, sell It, watch it, we play it. Guns are a part of popular culture,’ they are integral to many of our favourite games and films likely to remain so for generations to come; less we forget, we seed it, we glorify it, we wage it.

McCrow invite’s you to support One Less Gun, which is simply dedicated to reducing the number of surplus and illicit weapons and promoting a social responsibility to that end.

MADDOX LONDON | HOERLE GUGGENHEIM NEW YORK | CHASE MANHATTAN | MADDOX LOS ANGELES | MADDOX TEXAS YANG GALLERY SINGAPORE | SHANGHAI | BEIJING

A visual image provides a powerful form of ideological ammunition for teaching the masses. An image created by a masterful mind has the power to embody people's feelings and thoughts. It reverberates in the heart of every honest person, strengthens their faith in themselves and in the minds of others, and inspires them to fight the enemy heroically. The enemy of civilisation, is war.

Made from the weapons destroyed; championing the notion that artist and their patrons can shape the world.

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