War and comedy. Two words that by all means don’t go together. But in the eyes of an artist comedy and war come together in a funny, ironic and playful way. I can only talk about William Heath Robinson and an exhibition of his wartime work at Mottisfont. Some 50 artworks display the quintessential English humour, and you always have to look. His contraptions were funny, absurd always put a smile on people's faces. Walking around the gallery, you could hear chuckles and giggles from every direction.
Heath Robinsons' drawings don’t just amuse us today. As the carefully curated exhibition pointed out, they raised morale and made it a little more enjoyable for soldiers and civilians in tough times. The exhibition displays a letter from a British Soldier sent to Robison in 1916. The letter is one of many thanking Robinson for his drawings and for rebuilding morale and in this day and age where the media is almost incessantly negative, Robinson's drawings provide a fabulous escape.
Robinson contraptions are something to behold, taking everyday objects like Anderson shelters and turning them into carriages, boats, chicken coops and hammocks. Using a conveyor belt to stop soldiers from crossing a bridge and melted butter to cause soldiers and tanks to slip. Using people standing on stilts in the sea to confuse an invasion force where the shore is, that can only be Heath Robinson. And that he could draw all these ironic, satirical and British pieces without showing anyone getting hurt just goes to show how smart Robinson was.
Heath Robinson at War is on at the National Trust’s Mottisfont till Sunday the 14th of April. Admission to the gallery is free to members of the National Trust, National Art Fund members and under 5s. Booking is not needed. The gallery is open from 11-16:40.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/mottisfont/events/c6258047-dbf7-4e4b-868e-b0b64df98864
