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In this episode I discuss the issue of homelessness, and the radical approach that Finland has taken to tackle the problem in contrast to what is going on in the UK. And I reflect on an exhibition I saw this week by the American artist Pope L., whose work throughout his career has addressed the subject of homelessness, poverty and social and systemic inequalities head-on.

Pope L. (1955-2023) was a multidisciplinary artist and although he isn’t a household name with audiences, his influence on other artists over the years has been profound. Back in the late 70s he started to make a reputation when he did a performance called Crawl (1978) in which he dressed up in a suit bought from a charity shop and crawled the length of 42nd Street in New York on his hands and knees. It probed assumptions about homelessness and poverty and was uncomfortable to watch. It got right under people’s skin in the way that only the most powerful art can.

The Gallery Companion is hosted by writer and historian Dr Victoria Powell. It's a thought-provoking dive into the interesting questions and messy stuff about our lives that art explores and represents.

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