Manifesto: the word is immediately redolent of revolutionaries and ideologues, of breaking down the barriers and challenging the status quo. A strongly worded manifesto can be a striking catalyst for change, a clarion call to action, and a rallying point for troops and allies, employees and supporters. A manifesto can also be something to live by, such as Leo Tolstoy’s brilliant (and still relevant) Rules for Life from 1847 – although you may wish to disregard the one about visiting brothels twice a month.
Gilbert and George published The Laws of Sculptors in 1969. Seemingly at odds with their over-arching “art for all” mantra, the Laws say sculptors should ‘make the world believe in you and to pay heavily for this privilege’.
