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'Secrets of the Saucy Seaside Postcard'An exhibition that celebrates the nation's love of the cheeky seaside postcard opens at the City Museum in Portsmouth on Saturday 17 May.
'Secrets of the Saucy Seaside Postcard' takes a look behind the scenes at the artwork that went into creating the red-faced husbands, buxom blondes and other memorable characters associated with Bamforth's comic postcards.
Drawn from the Kirklees Museums and Gallery's Bamforth collection of over 20,000 postcards and 1,500 pieces of artwork, the exhibition showcases the art of the comic postcards, following their production from the artist's rough sketch through to the final printed version. On display will be 250 examples of original artwork and a selection of original postcards.
The exhibition has toured some of the country's seaside towns but Portsmouth is the first south coast venue.
Other printed items will also be on show including calendars, Valentines and birthday cards, produced by the company that operated for over 85 years before being sold to a Scarborough-based postcard publisher in 1987.
In addition, the exhibition gives a modern twist to the comic postcard through specially commissioned artwork by three modern artists. Funded by the Arts Council, the artists have used the postcards as inspiration for new works in textiles, ceramics and paper.
Paddy Killer has produced a giant textile postcard, taking figures from original Bamforth cards and - in keeping with the Bamforth tradition of reflecting topical issues - adding modern faces such as Posh and Becks, Ant and Dec, George Bush and Tony Blair. The postcard sends greetings from Benidorm, one of the most popular holiday destinations.
Olivia Brown has created a fun pier installation inhabited not by people but by dogs. Bonemouth Pier, an eight-foot square work, has dogs sitting in deck chairs, dogs having a silly seaside picture taken by a dog photographer and dogs getting on with their 'business'.
Kate Eggleston-Wirtz has three mixed media works that look at different aspects of the postcards. Beach Ball is a large papier mâché ball covered in pictures of the fleshy bodies that feature in Bamforth's postcards.
The exhibition also includes large showcases of seaside themed costume from the city's collections and Hampshire County Council Museums and Archives Service. See summer clothes and bathing costumes from the Edwardian era to the fifties.
"There is still a great fascination with the saucy seaside postcards produced by Bamforth & Co" said Deborah Richards from the museums service.
"They're cheeky, a little bit naughty, but a lot of fun - and the artwork is fantastic."
Portsmouth City Council
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
Hampshire, PO1 2BG
023 9283 4092
general@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
