Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives
Darren Cullen is a satirical artist, illustrator and writer, born in Leeds to Irish immigrant parents and currently based in London. Cullen initially studied advertising at Leeds College of Art where he learned the language and techniques of the medium but became horrified at the ethical implications involved. Claiming that “manipulating the desires and aspirations of the public, and especially children, using an arsenal of sophisticated and emotionally damaging psychological techniques is an appalling way to make a living and an even worse way to sustain an economy.”
Cullen abandoned advertising to study Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art. He now uses the language of advertising to make work about the empty promises of consumerism and the lies of military recruiters. Releasing his first comic, an anti-army recruitment booklet sarcastically called ‘Join the Army’ in 2013 (bethemeat.co.uk).
As well as 'Pocket Money Loans' the opening show at Atom Gallery in 2014 Cullen wrote a series of short films called 'Action Man: Battlefield Casualties'
In 2019 he co-curated a Museum of Neoliberalism with Gavin Grindon which has now opened semi-permanently in London.
He recently created the ‘Hell Bus’ to draw attention to Shells ‘Greenwashing’ and was featured on Joe Lycett vs the Oil giant on Channel 4
