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Performance artists The Editors created a René Magritte inspired flashmob with teams of bowler hatted businessmen taking over Tate Liverpool.
Event specialists Purple Revolver directed the video using 35 actors in the style of classic film The Thomas Crown Affair to promote the last chance to see René Magritte: The Pleasure Principle, which ends on Sunday, and to highlight that the gallery is now open seven days a week.
The flashmob, which you can watch here, paid tribute to the stylish 1999 movie with Pierce Brosnan in which he returns a stolen painting using a distraction by bringing the Belgian Surrealist’s bowler hatted characters off the canvas into real life.
The Editors, who wore purple bowler hats, briefly added a tribute artwork to one of Magritte’s most recognisable works The Treachery of Images, placing it on an easel in the foyer as part of the public performance at the gallery in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
Art fans were treated to an impromptu marching performance, with Milk Presents and Lucky Beaches joining the ‘mob’ around the gallery and through the revolving doors to Nina Simone’s track Sinnerman.
Tourist Anne Marie Harrison, who watched the action unfold said: “This was a great suprise, I’d travelled up from London to see the exhibition but never expected to see the painting brought to life.”
Purple Revolver director Pierce King said: “The Editors wanted to do something special to highlight the Magritte exhibition, which has been a huge scoop for Liverpool and the Thomas Crown idea was a perfect fit.
“We urge art lovers to make sure they see the exhibition before it finishes this week and enjoy the video.”
Rachel Skelton, Tate Liverpool Press Officer added: “Staff and visitors were astounded to see Magritte’s painting come to life.
“It was a fantastically surreal tribute to the artist and a fitting end to what has been a very popular exhibition. The exhibition continues until Sunday, but with over 2,300 visitors last weekend, we advise people to book in advance for the remaining days of the show.”
Tate Liverpool is now open every day, but will close at 17:00 from Monday 17 October 2011 until Monday 2 April 2012. Their next special exhibition, Alice in Wonderland, opens on Friday 4 November and continues until 29 January 2012.