Photography and representations of motherhood, study visit
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Fred Hüning, Untitled, 2008, © Fred Hüning Courtesy of the artist
This autumn the Photographers’ Gallery and the Foundling Museum are showing two linked exhibitions curated by Susan Bright. The Photographers’ Gallery presents Home Truths: Photography, Motherhood and Identity, an exhibition exploring representations of motherhood through the works of eight contemporary artists while the Foundling Museum has Home Truths: Photography, Motherhood and Loss
Talking of the exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery Susan Bright said: ‘The work in this exhibition is at times subtle, at times bold. Highly subjective, it can also be contradictory. It displays a sense of seriousness and intense reflection, often with a haunting quality. It has the ability to move, but also to question and disrupt assumptions without being judgmental. Like photography itself, the expectations and demands of motherhood are in flux; both subject and medium grapple for new meaning in a changing world. My hope is that the work featured here will open up debates about the continued representation and place of the mother figure, while raising questions about the identity and display of photography at this pivotal moment in which we find ourselves – at a crossroads between the singular photographic object and the sprawling nature of the networked image.’
Clearly we could not let such major exhibitions pass without a study visit and on Saturday 12 October tutors Sharon Boothroyd and Caroline Bloor will lead a visit to both exhibitions. To book your place email enquiries@oca-uk.com Places are free for OCA students, but please be aware there is a small entry charge for the Foundling Museum which will payable on the day. We are expecting heavy demand for this visit so some places are reserved for students who have not previously attended a study visit. If you cannot get a place on the study visit we hope you will still visit the exhibitions and join the discussion subsequently.
Elina Brotherus, Annunication 4, 2010 © Elina Brotherus Courtesy of the artist and GB Agency, Paris
This might be of interest, Susan Bright talking about this exhibition https://vimeo.com/76945932
Thanks John
This study visit was fully booked and the video together with the tutor feedback convinces me the exhibitions were two of the most important photography exhibitions to run this year. I think we would be happy to run a second visit if there was sufficient demand.
My blog of the day is here …
http://amanostudy.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/home-truths-photography-and-motherhood/
Another link to an interview with Susan Bright which also includes a link to the Photoparley interview with Sharon …
http://www.photomonitor.co.uk/2013/10/on-curating-home-truths/
Link to page with interviews with the artists …
http://www.artbookspublishing.co.uk/home-truths/
Amano, I finally completed mine…I struggled with thoughts and words but eventually came up with something…it’s very difficult to write about a topic which resonates, you also agree that the media portrays motherhood in a false light but aren’t quite comfortable with the alternative stance. I am now wondering how would I portray it if given the title…but that will go onto the backburner as I have far too much to do with my course and as a mother lolol
http://janfairburnoca.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/home-truths-photography-and.html