Artists Gilbert and George have unveiled their new art show – inspired by beards.

The Beard Pictures And Their Fuckosophy is the latest series of work by the duo, who shot to fame as “living sculptures”.

Their huge, brightly coloured pictures at London’s White Cube gallery show the artists wearing beards made of wire mesh, beer foam and in front of and behind barbed wire.

They were inspired “when we started to see beards all over the place, Muslim beards, Jewish beards, Sikh beards, hippy beards, tramps’ beards,” Gilbert told the Press Association of their new work.

Gilbert and George work Beardsters at White Cube (Sherna Noah/PA/White Cube)
The Gilbert and George work Beardsters at White Cube (Sherna Noah/PA)

“We started to see barbed wire all over Europe, all over the world in a new way, burglar alarms all over the world, and beards sticking through the wire.”

The pair, known for their distinctive, suited appearance, have collaborated since they met at art school in 1967.

Beardmas by Gilbert and George (Sherna Noah/PA)
Beardmas by Gilbert and George at White Cube Bermondsey (Sherna Noah/PA)

Asked whether they ever disagree on their creations, Italian-born Gilbert said: “I think we have to agree. Otherwise we would be finished!

“We have a great sense of purpose. We know where we want to go… You don’t have to be one person only to have a view.”

George said: “It’s a secret. It’s a great secret. … It’s two people but one artist.”

A message from Gilbert and George in the toilets at White Cube (Sherna Noah/PA)
A message from Gilbert and George in the toilets at White Cube (Sherna Noah/PA)

And he added: “When we’re asked, ‘What happens if one of you dies?’ We say ‘fall under a taxi or a bus you mean? Fear not, we always cross the road together’.”

Gilbert & George The Beard Pictures And Their Fuckosophy is at White Cube Bermondsey from Wednesday until January 28 2018.