The Life of the Mind
Love, Sorrow and Obsession
Curated by Bob and Roberta Smith
Floors 3, 4, Foyer and Window Box.
Artists: Liz Arnold, Bobby Baker, Anne Bean, Efi Ben-David, Louise Bourgeois, Sean Burn, Hannah Camille, Helen Chadwick, Vlasta Delimar, Tracey Emin, Sir Jacob Epstein, Theodore Garman, Geoffrey Ireland, Daniel Johnston, Poshya Kakl, Jeff Keen, Yayoi Kusama, Sarah Lucas, Annette Messager, Lucia Nogueira, Sinead O’Donnell, Chris Ofili, Janette Parris, Bob and Roberta Smith, Emma Talbot, Jennet Thomas, Vincent van Gogh and Jessica Voorsanger.
Inspired by Sir Jacob Epstein’s sculpture of his then 15 year old daughter Esther in which she seems to be resisting the artist’s gaze, The Life of the Mind seeks to expose the myth of the great male artist who has special insight into the minds of his more frail female subjects. This exhibition featured a key number of powerful female artists who give form to the interior world. Each artist resists easy interpretation and in Bob’s words, “sticks a sharp pair of scissors into the soft underbelly of male hegemony”.
A New Ways of Curating initiative.
The exhibition marked the culmination of Bob and Roberta Smith’s residency at the Gallery. During an 18 month period, he worked closely with Archive Curator Neil Lebeter to explore, present and interpret the largely untapped resource of the Epstein Archive.
Preview
Thursday 20 January 2011, 6pm – 9pm
Friends, family & colleagues welcome.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Tom Bloxham MBE, Chair of Urban Splash,
Manchester International Festival and Tate Trustee at 7pm.
Followed by a special music performance by The Grubby Mitts.
In Conversation
Saturday 26 February, 2pm
Bob and Roberta Smith will be joined by artist Bobby Baker to discuss the ideas explored within the exhibition
Tour
Saturday 5 March, 2pm
Bob and Roberta Smith give a tour of the exhibition.
Please reserve your free place in advance by calling 01922 654400.
Image: Bob and Roberta Smith, The Life of the Mind, 2010. Paint on board. Courtesy of the artist and Hales Gallery.
