Why artists should Carry On Screaming Fenella Fielding's name

Martin Firrell's video artwork, metaFenella, sees the 86-year-old actor imparting her wisdom. Why has it taken so long for the art world to celebrate this subversive Carry On star?

Would you take life advice from a woman who smokes? From her body, I mean. In Martin Firrell's online artwork metaFenella, you can sample the wisdom of actor Fenella Fielding who, in the 1966 film Carry On Screaming!, uttered the immortal line "Do you mind if I smoke?" At which moment a cloud of the stuff wafted from her sultry form.

I'd like to see more art about the Carry On films. Or even a wider acknowledgement of them as art in their own right.

Fenella Fielding, now in her 80s, has of course done things besides Carry On. She pioneered women's standup comedy, was a legendary Hedda Gabler on stage and her unmistakable voice has enriched such classic television programmes as The Prisoner.

But who can forget her double act with Kenneth Williams as the gothic brother and sister who cast their victims in a gooey stuff like fish and chip shop batter? "Frying tonight!" as Williams cries.

It's surprising that Fielding has only now been taken up by the art world. In her own way, she is like an Andy Warhol superstar. The Carry On films were made at the same time that Warhol was making his "underground" films in New York and the similarities don't stop there. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds