Artwork removed from National Portrait Gallery after Churchill row (opens original article in a new tab)

A controversial artwork depicting Winston Churchill's role in the 1943 Bengal famine was removed from the National Portrait Gallery amid backlash from historians and peers, with the artist citing concerns about external pressure.

• A video installation by Helen Cammock titled 'Persistence' was removed from the National Portrait Gallery due to controversy over its portrayal of Winston Churchill's role in the 1943 Bengal famine.
• Churchill biographer Lord Andrew Roberts and over 50 peers called the claims in the artwork a 'bare-faced lie' and 'historically ludicrous,' stating the famine was caused by a typhoon and Churchill sought aid.
• Cammock decided to withdraw the piece, citing concerns about external pressure on artists and emphasizing art's role in exploring historical narratives.