---
title: "RT4A Conservatism kills"
description: "Conservatism kills, 2022: an rt4a triptych in ash, graphite powder and primers that turns the Smoking Kills cigarette-pack warning onto a mindset."
canonical: https://arthurfouray.systems/rt4a-conservatism-kills
type: CreativeWork
year: 2022
updated: "2026-09-26T22:46:57+00:00"
image: https://freight.cargo.site/w/2000/h/2000/q/75/i/A1344471029898713765927813383595/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-010.5x.png
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
---
# RT4A Conservatism kills

RT4A Conservatism kills

Conservatism kills

2022

Ash, graphite powder and primers on linen canvas

41 x 75 x 24 cm

RT4A2212

Courtesy of the artist

Utilising three pre-stretched and pre-coated commercial canvases, typically favoured by hobbyists or weekend artists, joined together, Conservatism kills emulates the style of mandatory warnings found on cigarette packs. It is a spin on the notorious ‘Smoking Kills’ phrase, recontextualised to critique a pervasive and arguably more perilous mindset.

The canvases, once unified, were further treated with several layers of diverse primers (incorporating five different types). The inscribed text was crafted from a blend of cigarette ash, graphite powder, and a transparent acrylic medium to secure the pigments to the painting.

The triptych, emblematic of classical art, paired with the statement ‘conservatism kills’, presents a delightful juxtaposition. The restrained use of black and white colours, coupled with the Helvetica typeface – which, though now ubiquitous, was once a rare find in typesetting and thus became a symbol of culture during the second half of the 20th century – further underscores a discourse of conservative standardisation masked as elegance.

Index

## Images

![Conservatism Kills 2022 Ash, Graphite Powder and Primers on Linen Canvas 41 X 75 X 24 Cm Rt4a2212 Courtesy of the Artist - rt4a Conservatism Kills .5x](https://freight.cargo.site/w/2000/h/2000/q/75/i/A1344471029898713765927813383595/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-010.5x.png)

![rt4a Conservatism Kills .5x](https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/h/800/q/75/i/L1344471030452116088139099932075/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-020.5x.png)

![rt4a Conservatism Kills .5x](https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/h/800/q/75/i/C1344471030489009576286519035307/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-040.5x.png)

![rt4a Conservatism Kills .5x](https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/h/800/q/75/i/W1344471030507456320360228586923/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-050.5x.png)

![rt4a Conservatism Kills .5x](https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/h/800/q/75/i/Z1344471030470562832212809483691/RT4A-Conservatism-kills-030.5x.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/E1355931137852118665373465707947/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-01.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/U1355931138239500290921366291883/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-02.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/J1355931138257947034995075843499/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-03.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/S1355931138276393779068785395115/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-04.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/K1355931138313287267216204498347/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-06.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/700/h/700/q/75/i/J1355931138331734011289914049963/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-07.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/h/500/q/75/i/R1355931138368627499437333153195/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-09.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/700/h/700/q/75/i/Y1355931138387074243511042704811/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-10.png)

![Archive rt4a Conservatism Kills](https://freight.cargo.site/w/700/h/700/q/75/i/V1355931138405520987584752256427/Archive-RT4A-Conservatism-kills-11.png)

## Related pages

- [Index](https://arthurfouray.systems/rt4a-index)

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