Back by popular demand, this exhibition made its second appearance at Centrespace studios and galleries in Bristol, celebrating International Women's Day. Running from March 8th-12th, this short and sweet exhibition encouraged those with a passion in all aspects of the visual arts to observe and interact. The featured artists thoughtfully explore what it means to be a woman through paintings, screen prints, sculptures and photography.
A lot of the work had a playful, almost childlike wonder, whether that’s through the expressive brush strokes or the nostalgic imagery, especially Flavio Pinot’s The Joy of Sacrifice, a monoprint and water colour piece which comments on the melancholic beauty of motherhood. Her dreamlike approach to representing the female form is further supported by the soft and gentle greens and blues that fill the piece with a delicate yet haunting beauty.
I felt as though this exhibition allowed visitors to make their own way through the space, not being guided by a colour coded or thematic path. Navigating the exhibition was entirely dependent on what drew your attention. The theme of motherhood was commonly referenced throughout this gallery, seeing pieces made from hammer beads representing a placenta and photographic series of a mother taken by her two-year-old child. This recurring theme created a sense of community and unity among the diverse art forms.
Other works had more of a personal touch, like hand-sewn dresses hanging over an honest and intimate journalistic dive into female vulnerability. The collection of photographs alongside items that could possibly hold sentimentality for the artist were arranged in a way that imitates a clothing dresser, further playing with themes of intimacy. We could say that intimacy was an umbrella theme for this entire exhibition as each art piece was carefully designed by the artists to showcase their own interpretation of the joys and downfalls of womanhood.
Women by Women.2 also had political undertones, commenting on the derogatory terms that are used for homosexual women. The artists unapologetically reclaimed these words by turning them into textual art. Acknowledging this aspect of the female experience seemed very welcoming and inclusive of those that struggle to enjoy living in a world where the female experience is tainted by external judgement and abuse. Even with these more weighted topics, the artist handled them with both sensitivity and grace.
For me, the curation of this exhibition made a great impact on my experience. The space was designed to make the art accessible to everyone. The tactile placement of sculpture amongst the two-dimensional works invited audiences to walk amongst the work, not just stand and look. The whole space felt very immersive and engaging due to the range of materials used.
Easily one of the best parts was the table covered with a thick cotton sheet that was open for visitors to embroider on. Needles and thread provided, visitors who had come before me left their mark of flowers, swirls, suns and boats, each contribution was unique, with personal reflections written in a book to accompany them. This type of engagement was heart-warmingly refreshing to see as art galleries often get stuck in the tradition of ‘look but don’t touch’.
Providing an activity that responded to the art being displayed was an innovative way to get audiences to slow down their experience within the space. This feature was incredibly successful in echoing the overarching goal of the exhibition to showcase community and experience life through the visual arts.
The sense of community and personal reflection was carried through the entire exhibition, making it a space to share experiences not just art. All in all, Women by women.2 is a beautifully engaging exhibition that tackles the many paths of a woman's life, represented through multimedia artistic mediums. I urge those of you who are intrigued by this exhibition or the art I have spoken about to research it online as the chosen artists for this year’s exhibition have exceptional talent and will hopefully be displayed at more upcoming exhibitions. I just wish that it lasted for longer so that it would reach a wider audience.
