Turner Prize-winning artist Helen Cammock has defended her video piece 'Persistence' at the National Portrait Gallery after it sparked controversy over its depiction of Winston Churchill. The 40-minute work, which Cammock narrates, draws a comparison between Oliver Cromwell's campaigns in Ireland and what she describes as 'the wilful starvation of the Indian population by Winston Churchill' during the Bengal famine of 1943. Lord Roberts of Belgravia, a Churchill biographer, led a letter signed by more than 50 peers calling the claim a 'barefaced lie' and the film an 'ideologically motivated rant'. The Telegraph also criticized the assertion as incorrect. Cammock responded that the work is not a documentary but a creative piece exploring who is honored in portraiture and how histories are constructed.
The controversy matters because it highlights ongoing tensions around historical representation in public institutions and the role of artists in challenging established narratives. Cammock is the latest Black British artist to face criticism from right-wing media, following similar attacks on Misan Harriman and Larry Achiampong. The row is seen by some artists as a politically motivated attempt to silence artists and institutions. The National Portrait Gallery, which commissioned the work in 2023, said it had received the letter but was not aware of any visitor complaints. The piece remains on display until August, underscoring the gallery's commitment to fostering dialogue around its collection and the figures it honors.