Project AfterBirth: international exhibition premiere

PROJECT AFTERBIRTH: 21st century visions on pregnancy, birth and new parenthood in fine art, photography, film, music, poetry, performance and more.

THE TRIUMPH OF NEW MOTHERHOOD. STILLBIRTH. FULL-TIME FATHERHOOD. TEENAGE PARENTHOOD. MISCARRIAGE. PARENTING IN A WARZONE. BILINGUAL SPEECH DEVELOPMENT. POST NATAL DEPRESSION. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

These are just some of the themes behind the 39 international works showcased as part of Project AfterBirth; the first ever international exhibition on the subject of early parenthood, of which the world premiere will launch at White Moose gallery, North Devon, this October .

Each of the 39 works in the exhibition – which spans across the visual, performance, literary, film and digital arts - were made in the 21st century and represent personal pregnancy, birth and new parenthood experiences of 30 outstanding international contemporary male and female artists. Due to the lingering taboo status of parenthood in the contemporary art world and its perceived inferiority as a subject, most of the works have never been shown publicly before.

At times hilarious and at times deeply moving, the exhibition stands to leave a lasting impression on parents, but will also resonate with anyone in terms of their own individual birth and childhood journeys. The exhibition is also a first in demonstrating the profound influence pregnancy, birth and new parenthood experiences can have on the practice of 21st century female and male artists.

Project AfterBirth is the brainchild of Exeter based artist/curator duo Mila Oshin & Kris Jager (a.k.a. Joy Experiment) whose own early parenthood experiences informed their new body of work PASSAGE, to be published/released this autumn as a poetry collection and music album.

Mila Oshin said:

“The contrast between the representation of pregnancy, birth and new parenthood in the media and our actual lived experiences is starker than ever before, and plays a big part in the increasing sense of isolation felt by 21st century parents. By seeking out and publicly displaying outstanding and highly personal contemporary works of art that reveal the many true faces of parenthood, we hope Project AfterBirth will make its mark in raising the profile of parenthood as we all really know it.”

In spite of Project AfterBirth‘s tight parameters, an international open Call For Artists that took place this Spring resulted in more than 150 works from all over the world being submitted for consideration.

In addition to Mila Oshin and Kris Jager, Project AfterBirth’s exhibition’s selection panel members included Martha Joy Rose (Museum of Motherhood, New York, USA), Helen Knowles (Birth Rites Collection, Manchester, UK), Francesca Pinto (The Photographer’s Gallery, London, UK), and Stella Levy & Julie Gavin (White Moose, Devon, UK).

The Project AfterBirth exhibition premieres at White Moose gallery, North Devon, from 3rd October until 13th November 2015, with the aim to tour to a number of UK, European and USA art spaces and online platforms in 2016-19.

The 30 international artists that will exhibit work as part of Project AfterBirth are:

1. Alison O’Neill (UK)
2. Amanda West (USA)
3. Belinda Kochanowska (Australia)
4. Carole Evans (UK/Switzerland)
5. Chris Anthem (Lebanon/UK)
6. Clare Archibald (Scotland)
7. Courtney Kessel (USA)
8. Csilla Nagy (Hungary)
9. Danielle Hobbs (Australia)
10. Debbie Lee (UK)
11. Eti Wade (UK)
12. Geoffrey Harrison (UK)
13. Helen Sargeant (UK)
14. Hester Berry (UK)
15. Ione Rucquoi (UK)
16. Jana Kasalova (Czech Republic)
17. Jenny Lewis (UK)
18. Josie Beszant (UK)
19. Laura James Wray (UK/South Africa)
20. Lu Heintz (USA)
21. Madison Omahne (USA)
22. Magda Stawarska Beavan (UK/Poland)
23. Marilyn Kyle (UK)
24. Rachel Fallon (Ireland)
25. Rocio Saenz (Mexico)
26. Ruth Gray (UK)
27. Sasha Waters Freyer (USA)
28. Sarah Sudhoff (USA)
29. Tareg Morris (UK)
30. Trish Morrissey (UK/Ireland)

ENDS

Exhibition: Project AfterBirth: 21st century visions on early parenthood
Gallery: White Moose
Dates: Sat 3 Oct 2015 – Fri 13 Nov 2015
Times: Tuesday – Friday 11 am – 5 pm, Saturday 11 am – 5 pm
Entry: FREE
Location: White Moose, Moose Hall, Trinity Street, Barnstaple EX32 8HX
T: 01271 379872, E: info@whitemoose.co.uk, W: http://www.whitemoose.co.uk

SPECIAL EVENTS: Artist talks, workshops and other activities aimed at various age groups are planned to take place throughout Project AfterBirth’s exhibition at White Moose this Autumn. Please check White Moose’s or Project AfterBirth’s website nearer the time.

For all PRESS ENQUIRIES please email projectafterbirth@lionartprojects.co.uk

Please LIKE Project AfterBirth on Facebook and/or follow the project on Twitter

Project AfterBirth’s 2015 programme is delivered with generous support from:

Museum of Motherhood, New York
Birth Rites Collection, Manchester
White Moose, Barnstaple
Joy Experiment, Exeter
Arts Council England

For more information, please visit: www.projectafterbirth.com

For more information visit http://www.projectafterbirth.com/