London artist reveals dismay as AK-47 artwork is banned from entering US

Disappointed: Bran Symondson's work created from decommissioned assault rifles has been banned from entering the US
Maddox Gallery
Jamie Bullen16 August 2016

An award-winning artist has told of his dismay after his artwork created from AK-47 assault rifles was banned from entering the US for an exhibition.

Former soldier Bran Symondson, 45, who is based in London, said three pieces of his work were seized by customs officials as they made their way to Houston for a display this week hosted by London’s Maddox Gallery.

The installations, named “Spoils of War”, “Beat of a Wing” and “Virtue of the Vicious”, were made from decommissioned assault rifles captured in war zones.

They show guns plastered in US dollar bills and butterflies. His work led him to receive the Amnesty International Media Award in 2011.

However, tonight the Mayfair-based gallery revealed the pieces were stopped from entering the US because they breached US customs law.

Banned: Customs law prevented the rifles from entering the US
Maddox Gallery

Mr Symondson said it was “ironic” his artwork has been blocked from public display while US citizens are allowed to buy weapons over the counter.

Mr Symondson said: “It is unfortunate that I am unable to exhibit - particularly as the pieces are created from decommissioned AK-47’s, which were captured on route from Afghanistan to Syria, completely harmless and unusable as weapons.

Seized: Mr Symondson said it was "ironic" his artwork could not enter the US while citizens were able to buy guns
Maddox Gallery

“It is ironic that the law permits US Citizens to go and buy a new, live weapon which I could, in theory, use to create one of my artworks from, which then could technically be used in its intended form but will not allow my pieces of harmless art into the country.

“When discussing the issue in La Colombe d’Or Art gallery with a client, who is a US citizen – he laughed and offered to purchase a fully functionally AK47 online for me there and then."

A Maddox Gallery spokesperson added: "We can confirm that Bran Symondson’s artworks created from decommissioned AK-47 assault rifles, were on their way to Houston, Texas, to be part of a group exhibition at The Colombe d’Or in Houston.

"The pieces have been halted at US customs and will not be permitted to be released for Maddox Gallery’s exhibition this week due to US customs law."

Mr Symondson was a serving soldier when he began documenting the war in Afghanistan before he became well known for his art.

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