at The House of Smalls Gallery Edinburgh
I am so pleased to be part of such a wonderful group of female artists in this very powerful show ‘The Ascent of Man’. My constant fight against the patriarch and systemic injustices, I exhibited pieces about Local Authority Housing, disability discrimination and Autism.
This exhibition showcases the artwork of 70 female artists in both the gallery space and the dollhouse, made in response to their feelings at the ever-increasing oppression, repression and suppression of women around the world.
This show also includes the completed I Am Woman Project, a large textile piece by Holly Searle (The Subversive Stitcher), incorporating 81 small textile works created by over 60 women. This artwork is remaining in situ following the Contexture show and the background to the piece can be read on the exhibition page.
The words and language used in profiles are exactly as provided by the artists so that work is portrayed as intended and that what artists want to say about themselves, their work and practice – however much or little and in whatever form – is said.
If you’re interested in purchasing/discussing any of the artwork please contact me. A 10% commission is applied to sales and, as with show fees, any money raised through commission is ploughed back into the gallery for rent, overheads and upkeep.
https://www.thehouseofsmalls.com/theascentofman
My work included in the show:
Building houses upon houses, miles and miles of suffocating and oppressive estates, overpopulated slums… instead of meeting the needs of disabled people, who, with right housing (nothing special, nothing fancy, not costly, but specific) would significantly reduce reliance on other services, and take pressure off already oversubscribed and full-to-capacity mental health and social care sectors. I think they just hope people go away. It’s cheaper if we are dead. Equality Act means nothing. Human Rights Act means nothing. Totally unable to get the representation that we are entitled, accountability is non-existence and legal services are impenetrable, meanwhile our rights are diminished and life, if it was even possible, actually gets more difficult, more harm is caused, becoming more vulnerable, less able to function, less able to be a part of society, more and more unwell, less and less life prospects. The Systemic abuse of Autistic Families is commonplace across all of the Public Sector which vehemently protects itself by causing vulnerable families the most harm, and as a result, we are stuck and silenced into submission. My family has been emotionally and psychologically crushed by the housing system. My fight against disability policies and suitable housing and even homelessness has seen me become so unwell that I can’t begin to explain here, a shell of my former self and still they suck all the life out of me. The constant battles become all consuming. It’s the system that’s broken me. Yet I still stand.
@i_am_bernadettelouise
