Washing, Dancing, Singing: Women Living and Working in Prison
A collection of historic photographs of women living and working in prisons.
These poignant photographs captivated us from the moment they were carefully unwrapped in the museum store. As the tissue paper fell we noticed solidarity, togetherness and moments of joy within the bleak sadness of the context.
The photographs were taken in several UK prisons and cover a period of 140 years. They arrived in the museum collection with little provenance and we wondered how these emotive pictures could be shared when we knew so little about them. The absence of information offered us both a freedom and a challenge. Why were the photographs taken, who took them, what are the stories of the women pictured?
We shared the images widely and the insights and observations offered have informed the interpretive approach. In this guide we’ve presented quotes, lists and facts around rehabilitation, routine and recreation along with statements about women experiencing prison today. This exhibition is the start of a journey to represent multiple perspectives within our research around these extraordinary photographs.
When you leave the gallery we invite you to consider your privilege, your freedom and the skills that you might share to enhance someone’s life within your community.
V21 Artspace facilitated the production of a 3D Virtual Exhibition Tour, enabling accessibility and sharing with a wider audience.
“We’d really like to share this exhibition and these photographs with women living in prison today so that we can include their perspective and their voice so that we can amplify their opinion. So if people can’t come to the room and experience the exhibition the room can go to them.” - Andrea Hadley-Johnson (Exhibition Curator).
