Searching For The Invisible Woman

This project from 2015 explored what middle-aged women felt about being their current age. I initially conducted an email survey asking women how they felt about their age. Although it wasn't conducted on a scientific basis (an open call on social media to start with) the responses came in from around the globe, from women with very differing experiences of life revealing that these middle years often provide a wealth of change, some of it anticipated, some of it totally unexpected. These results, and further extensive research, formed the basis of an exhibition featuring textile work, animation, shrines and floating clouds.
The exhibition was seen at:
The Festival of Quilts, NEC Birmingham UK 6th-9th August 2015
Stockport Art Gallery 9th January - 13th February 2016
Nuneaton Art Gallery 19th May - 15th July 2018

"Wardrobe Dilemmas" 112cms x 140cms Dyed, painted, printed and quilted textile Many women reported feeling unsure about what to wear, not wanting to look like an old woman but also fearful of looking "like mutton dressed as lamb"

"They Never Actually Belonged To You" 112cms x 150cms Dyed, painted Cyanotyped and quilted textile Several respondents were unprepared for how difficult they found the process of children leaving home. This often coincided with elderly parents needing care or dying.

"Reflecting The Future" (detail) 108cms x 140cms Dyed, printed, painted, quilted textile.

"Shrine" 31cms x 38cms x 6cms Gold leaf, antique watch parts, keys from long forgotten locks, fabric figure.

These Hands
This part of the project came about following a conversation I had with a plastic surgeon. He told me that no matter how many 'procedures' we had on our faces and necks, or how many creams and potions we purchased to preserve our looks, it is our hands that reveal our age.
But our hands have done so many amazing things! I wanted to celebrate our wrinkly, knobbly, vein-laced middle aged hands. I photographed over 150 pairs of hands and asked their owners to tell me the coolest, most amazing things their hands had done.

"These Hands" (detail) 120cms x 220cms Cyanotype on cotton fabric

"These Hands" 120cms x 220cms Cyanotype on cotton fabric

 The Our Dreams Are All Up In The Air
I asked people what would be their wildest dreams if money and health were in abundance. By far the most common dream was travelling and travelling round the world was a particularly popular dream. Travel is now a realistic possibility for many, even on a limited budget. Some people rent out their houses and travel to cheaper countries for months with no economic impact. Some volunteer abroad for a year of so, becoming "grown-up gappers" Health featured in a few dreams, making us realise how much we take for granted: "My wildest dream would be to walk hand in hand with my husband, and that medical science would find a way to help my husband (who is quadriplegic) to walk again." "My wildest dream is to be able to hear my children. I am profoundly deaf." and some dreams conjure images which are delightfully bonkers: "An armful of pandas." The wildest dreams were cyanotyped on to fabric and stuffed to create little cloud dreams.

All Our Dreams Are Up In The Air

All Our Dreams Are Up In The Air (detail)

Animation: Searching For The Invisible Woman
A video is available to watch on Vimeo: click on "Animation" in menu

https://vimeo.com/180565005

Still from animation "Searching For The Invisible Woman"

Exhibition Catalogue

A 44 page catalogue featuring an introduction from Dr Melanie Miller and all the Wildest Dreams and things These Hands have done is available for £10 plus £3 postage from [email protected]