Sorry Gerry. You're just not the right sort for Che's V&A party

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Friday June 02, 2006 11:21

by Duncan Campbell - The Guardian Friday June 2, 2006

Curator furious as 'inappropriate' Adams barred from guest list

"I find the attitude of the museum bizarre and nonsensical. "On the basis of the current 'reason' offered by the V&A of refusing to invite politicians, it would appear that if Che was alive, he would be barred from his own exhibition. The British establishment works in wondrous ways." Gerry Adams

Che Guevara himself would have enjoyed the controversy. The Victoria and Albert Museum has decided that Gerry Adams, the Sinn Féin leader, should be removed from the guest list for next week's opening of its big exhibition on the "revolutionary and icon" because his attendance would not be "appropriate".

The museum authorities felt that because there was a high-profile exhibition of 60s fashion opening simultaneously, with many models and fashion photographers due to attend, Mr Adams's presence would not be "relevant". So Jerry Hall is on the guest list - but not Gerry Adams.

The decision has infuriated the exhibition's curator, Trisha Ziff. Yesterday Mr Adams said he wondered if Guevara would also have been barred, had he still been alive.

The exhibition arrives in London trailing plaudits. In Mexico City it was front-page news and increased museum attendance eightfold, while in Los Angeles it prompted protests by rightwing Cubans. Ms Ziff, originally from Leeds and now living in Mexico City, produced the exhibition of both rare and familiar photos, and was looking forward to a display in one of Britain's most prestigious venues. She submitted her guest list, which included Mr Adams, a personal friend with whom she had worked on exhibitions in the past.

She then received an email from Shaun Cole, acting head of the contemporary programme at the V&A, who told her all guests had been approved "except Gerry Adams, who is not relevant or appropriate". Ms Ziff, already unhappy that the museum had removed much of the text accompanying and explaining the images, which has now been posted on the website instead, said: "I was gobsmacked. Inviting Gerry was not a stunt and it never occurred to me there would be a problem."

After further inquiries, she was told the decision had been taken by "senior staff who won't be moved on this point". She inquired further and was then told by the museum's head of public affairs, Damien Whitmore, via email, that he needed help "with a difficult and very delicate situation".

Two other exhibitions were opening the same night, on design and fashion in the 60s, the latter sponsored by Miss Selfridge, which was bringing along "a number of models and actresses from the 60s as well as a number of fashion press".

He explained: "My difficulty is that the evening will attract a fashion crowd ... My sense is that having Gerry Adams there may not be appropriate because of this joint event ... I am sure you will understand our reasons for not inviting him."

Ms Ziff, however, does not understand, particularly as Mr Adams had jokingly told her he would have looked out his old Afghan jacket and loons for the occasion. She contacted Mark Jones, V&A director, who told her the museum had a policy of not inviting people affiliated to any political party. However, it turns out that Ken Livingstone, London's Labour mayor, has been invited.

"I find the attitude of the museum bizarre and nonsensical," said Mr Adams yesterday. "On the basis of the current 'reason' offered by the V&A of refusing to invite politicians, it would appear that if Che was alive, he would be barred from his own exhibition. The British establishment works in wondrous ways."

He would, as it happens, be in Spain, where he is due to be meeting political figures involved in peace efforts in the Basque country. But he found it odd that he was now welcome at 10 Downing Street but not at the V&A.

Ms Ziff remains dismayed. "It's extraordinary," she said. "The V&A have tried to turn it all [the Guevara exhibition] into just a design image and remove the resonance from it all.

"But you can't just turn Che Guevara into a commodity. The photo of Che by Alfredo Korda is the most reproduced image in history but it still has power. You can call it a storm in a teacup but it is really insidious. And on top of all that, the V&A shop is selling all these images of Che - there is even a Che lip balm.I'm amazed at the mindset."

Among items for sale during the exhibition will be a Che finger puppet, Che chocolate cigar, Che doll and Che cigar box as well as T-shirts, stickers, neon signs and badges.

A V&A spokeswoman said the museum had no comment. She could neither confirm nor deny a museum policy of not inviting politicians to exhibitions. A Miss Selfridge spokeswoman said about 1,000 guests from the world of fashion, design and photography were being invited to the joint opening.