“Lives Less Ordinary” at Two Temple Place features 150+ works by 60 artists, celebrating the complexities of British working-class life. Curated by Samantha Manton, it confronts stereotypes and advocates for better representation within cultural institutions, running until 20 April.
The exhibition, “Lives Less Ordinary: Working Class Britain Re-Seen,” at Two Temple Place highlights over 150 works by 60 artists, showcasing the richness of working-class life in Britain. The venue’s opulent Neo-Gothic design contrasts sharply with the themes of working-class representation, magnifying the importance of the show. It runs until 20 April and aims to address the historic under-representation of working-class individuals in the UK’s cultural institutions.
Curator Samantha Manton reveals her own experiences of concealing her working-class origins in the art world. She notes how art institutions often dismiss socio-economic disparities. The exhibition seeks to counter clichéd stereotypes of working-class life, highlighting diverse experiences instead. Manton emphasises that representations have traditionally been restricted to workplaces or dilapidated settings, failing to reflect the actual complexities of life.
Among notable pieces are Bert Hardy’s cheerful 1948 photograph of children in Glasgow and Jack Smith’s intimate painting of a child at home, which diverges from the usual political commentaries of the era. Additionally, artists like Jo Spence and Kelly O’Brien use their works to critique domestic life and explore themes of exhaustion in women’s roles. Highlights also include George Shaw’s evocative landscapes and Beryl Cook’s vibrant depictions.
The exhibition delves into the intersections of class with gender, race, and other identities. Works such as Hardeep Pandhal’s sign for a West Bromwich pub merge cultural iconographies, while Jasleen Kaur’s embroidered tracksuit reflects her Sikh background. The exhibition challenges traditional definitions of the working class, indicating it encompasses anyone engaged in low-paid sectors.
Manton underscores that this exhibition isn’t solely focused on working-class artists, but rather on showcasing the brilliance and diversity within this community. “Lives Less Ordinary” articulates the complexities of class in Britain today, encouraging ongoing dialogue within cultural spaces.
“Lives Less Ordinary” at Two Temple Place celebrates the vibrancy and complexity of working-class life through the works of numerous artists. The exhibition challenges stereotypes and aims to broaden the narrative of class representation in UK cultural institutions. By showcasing the intersections of class with gender and identity, it highlights the multidimensional experiences of working-class individuals and calls for their voices to be amplified within the art sector.
Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com