Hope
These figures pay homage to the ghosts of ‘fallen’ women, highlighting the issue of female suicide, both in the victorian era and through to today. I was inspired by the wrapped cloak and layered clothes 'binding' the young woman and her child together, as portrayed in the etching ‘The Bridge of Sighs’ by Millais.
Recycled fabric, Rust printed, cyanotype birch bark, clay pipes, rusted wire
57x39x17cm Plinth
57x39x17cm Plinth
Threads – Contemporary Textiles Open Salisbury Art Centre October 2016
Inspired By - Morley Gallery May 2016
Inspired By - Morley Gallery May 2016
John Everett Millais’ etching ‘The Bridge of Sighs’ was the inspiration for this piece.
‘After visiting an exhibition about the history of the Thames at Morley Gallery, I wanted to explore the river in the Victorian era further. In my research, I discovered that the bridges along the South Bank were a popular spot for female suicides. The tragic plight of these women inspired authors, artists and playwrights alike, and seized the public’s imagination.
What I found surprising was the concept of ‘a fallen women’, judged according to the morals of victorian society, gaining redemption through the act of drowning. These were not just prostitutes, but young women, often unmarried mothers from all classes.
Having recently lost both my mother and sister, I have been exploring the value of women, and how society completely undermines their contributions and burdens.
This group of figures pay homage to the ghosts of the women, and highlight the issue of female suicide, both in the victorian era and through to today. I was inspired by the wrapped cloak and layered clothes ‘binding’ the the young woman and her child together, as portrayed in the etching. Having completed some initial preparatory drawings, I began ‘sketching’ in three dimensions, experimenting with wire and strips of fabric; binding shapes and forms. I then developed the silhouettes and abstracted them into more elongated forms.
All photographs Jonathan Dredge