Is There Revolution On Our Doorsteps? Theresa May’s Portrait Suggests So

 by Marinela Pervataj

Resentment has been brewing in a discontented England. Whether it be the cost of a loaf, pay for our front-line staff or the concrete in our school buildings, the conservative government seem to be souring a stew of unhappiness. How soon until it bubbles over? Who will be first to be scalded? Will Starmer be left to clear the sordid mess?

Last week a portrait emerged that felt framed with revolution. An androgynous figure, naval hues and angular strokes – no, it was not Napoleon. Rather Theresa May holding an unbreakable gaze, dare we break it and be blighted by the current state of our country.

The piece was masterfully created by Saied Dai and it felt historical, reminiscent of a leader of the past. For some, it may at face value appear cold and detached, perhaps mirroring their views of May’s time in office, others may see an unmovable and formidable figure. Regardless of your opinions of May as an individual in the portrait, elements of it are rather Napoleonic: whether it be the perpendicular elbow or the mottled war pallet. Was this an intentional move from Dai - a statement made to mirror the views of the public within England?

The piece is also ironic in the sense that it suggests that it is the Conservative government that will be pioneering the movement for change; but the innovation that the country craves is steadily dissipating from the Commons. Crumbling schools are just another blow to Conservative integrity, with the Education Minister aggravating the situation further by her gush of self-pity. The 30,000 pupils who have had their start to the school year disrupted are arguably more deserving of that self-pity.

The list of discontentment in the past 13 years of Tory leadership is endless, with concrete being only one of their latest plights, but with changing times and unprecedented events it is perfectly expected, someone will always be unhappy, something will always go wrong. The fact that the response to these events has been inadequate or in some cases non-existent is what has driven the tide of displeasure. The youth of the country are displeased with the education system, those in their twenties are struggling to get a mortgage let alone pay for one, climate change is plaguing the entire population. The grumbling across the county is climbing to a seismic scale; how soon until things begin to crumble and the structures that the Tories have built come falling down on them. Will it be up to the Labour Party to rebuild the country? The ever-creeping elections will be the indicator of the way in which the direction of change will go in the country.

Change may look like a reformed NHS, change may take the form of better pay for those in the public sector, change may be a reformed economy. The bottom line is that change must occur. I eagerly anticipate what form it will take and by whose hands it will be done.

So, May’s portrait is complete, the leader immortalised forever in acrylics. But if England was given a painting would it be Delacroix’s Liberty leading the people? Will Starmer replace Liberty waving that red flag? Or will it be that of Van Gogh’s Starry Night?