The exhibition is a photographic series inspired by literary texts written by the modernist, trilingual and largely forgotten author of Polish origin Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska (1872-1925) who died in a mental asylum in the UK. 

Ready visually reimagines Sophie’s story of a migrant woman from Eastern Europe who travels west to Paris, New York and London to find employment, and more importantly, to fulfill her creative ambitions of becoming a writer. The rigid rules of the old societal order, lack of opportunities for women, poverty and disillusionment lead to her mental instability. The heaviest blow comes with the loss of her partner – the modernist French sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska – in the First World War soon after she sent him a rather mean-spirited letter.

The works in the exhibition explore the themes of displacement, creativity, loneliness, a disempowering sense of guilt, and social exclusion. Ready utilises impersonation and the performative aspect of photography to bring to life an undeservedly forgotten female writer and her works, stigmatized in the past for her incarceration in the mental asylum.

Images in the show are accompanied by audio recordings of excerpts of Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska’s works.

13th April, 6-8pm, Exhibition Opening

15th April, 10am, Artist’s talk with Ania Ready

 Tue 18 April afternoon;  Thursday 20 April morning, Wednesday 26 April lunchtime, Saturday 29 April – Meet the Artist in the gallery.

To find out more about the exhibition and artist   https://bit.ly/3UrEUvn