WOMEN IN REVOLT! ART AND ACTIVISM IN THE UK 1970 – 1990
This is the exhibition all women (and men) need to see.
A touring show from the Tate Britain this exhibition has now landed at the Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh – and it certainly does not disappoint.
Spread over the entire Modern Two gallery, the exhibition is a treat for artists, graphic designers, those with an interest in events that shape society.
Spanning two decades, it proves not to be preachy or overly academic, instead leading you through the struggles women still face on a day-to-day basis and how it impacts women artists working in the UK – highlighting those creating art whilst fighting injustice.
Some of the photography is harrowing but it depicts every-day life and important issues. Subjects include childcare, lack of nursery places, the conditions of factory workers, race, gender, lesbianism and Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.
I really enjoy the punk and independent music displays, which include an array of collage, photography and film. I am thrilled to see artwork by Marianne Elliott-Said (A.K.A Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex), particularly her collage with a comic strip highlighting unwanted pregnancy, which depicts a girl pressured into sex who ends up ‘a week overdue’ The image has coloured speech bubbles coloured and a packet of Microgynon 30 stuck over the top “Listerine, Clean, Sterilised, Savlon, Antiseptic, Germ-Free Adolescents”
Advertisements graffitied with strong comment by artist Jill Posener can be enjoyed for their humour. An advert for Fiat cars says ‘If this were a lady, it would get its bottom pinched’ to which is added in gigantic handwriting ‘If this were a lady she’d run you down. Sarcasm and humour are emblazoned for all to see on a giant billboard.
Don’t miss the brilliance of See Red Women’s Workshop and its striking red and contrasting green poster boldly showing the concerns of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Of course the exhibition is uncomfortable, I’ve heard some critics snipe that ‘it is of its time’ – oh really? If only something could be learned from the past – social conditions, housing crisis and blatant inequality in pay should have been addressed by now but unfortunately haven’t been satisfactorily rectified.
A series of six podcasts exploring the themes of the exhibition are available
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/feminist-art/women-in-revolt-podcast
Women in Revolt runs till 26 January 2025
Buy tickets here:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/women-in-revolt-art-and-activism-in-the-uk-1970-1990
