Women's Art Exhibition at the Tate Modern

Trotskyist group Workers Power  reports on an exhibition of women's political art in the period between 1970 and 1990 at the Tate Modern which runs until 9th April.  Alison Balfour, writing in the groups newspaper, says "The struggles of women expressed in the visual and material culture of the time also show how many women attempted to address a whole number of issues relating to social, economic, racial and sexual oppression. Demands for equal pay, free abortion and contraception, wages for housework, an end to the exploitation of women’s bodies, patriarchal culture, anti-war protests, the marginalisation of women artists, and lack of free or even affordable childcare all feature in the works on show."  Alison also notes "Sections of the exhibition also cover mass women’s actions like the Greenham Common Peace Camp, and the women’s support groups in the Miners Strike 1984-5 and last but definitely not least, lesbian rights and identities, as with Rosie Martin’s photo and text works on the theme of ‘What does a Lesbian look like?’   An interesting aspect of this exhibition is the display of publications from the time, Shrew, Spare Rib, and many others produced as cheaply and quickly as possibly using stencils and duplicating machines. This seems like ancient technology now in the digital age!"   But she also notes that there is not a great deal about trans women in the show, something which undoubtedly would be different if it covered contemporary art interventions.  

https://workerspower.uk/review-women-in-revolt-art-and-activism-in-the-u...