Thank you for your wonderful insights in this post, Victoria. I hadn't heard of Barbara Walker's work before so it was fascinating to read about her Windrush project. Her 2024 exhibition at the Whitworth in Manchester is sure to be great, and I hope it transfers to London.
What brilliant, thoughtful, brave artists. Great article, Victoria, I've learnt so much. I didn't really engage very much with the history of the Windrush scandal so some of this was new to me, to my shame.
Powerful work on a huge topic. For school this semester (grad program, Visual and Critical Studies) we read a chapter by Nicole Fleetwood called Excess Flesh: Black Women Performing Hypervisibility that relates to this and I'm looking forward to going back to that article and looking for the connections with your piece here. Thank you for doing this work.
My own writing and research is in the niche of how art and mental health are related - including the less-discussed shadow side of how mental health symptoms impact creative process and content. Happy to exchange ideas if you'd find it at all helpful when you get to that theme in your work.
The Fleetwood article sounds really interesting. Yes I would definitely like to talk to you about your research, that would be great. I'll be in touch. Thanks Kathryn
Thanks again for another thought-provoking post (I tend to read them as can see the images too). I look forward to the stimulation of your next season.
The expression of that contradictory and confusing feeling of invisibility and hyper-visibility is fascinating and truthfully addressed by both artists.
Thanks for reading, Caroline. I am definitely interested in exploring this contradictory visible/invisible thing a bit more in relation to other groups.
Congrats on another compelling season. So happy to see your podcast continue and grow. Look forward to the informal posts as well!
Love this topic and Walker’s work especially. I found it so moving in person. I did a lot of research previously on invisible women in HK — mainly from India and the Philippines — often with the same kind of role you discuss. The truth is too far reaching. Interesting and important to consider the specific context in the U.K. now with all the debates over immigration. This group is one that’s scapegoated for so many problems when people don’t realise they are supporting society in so many ways. AND that they are individual humans with the same desires and ideas and potential as all the “others.” Thanks for another great topic.
'they are individual humans with the same desires and ideas and potential as all the “others.”' that's exactly it. I just think why would anyone want to come and live in the UK to do a difficult, badly paid job, and live here without their spouse and family? I just think the government lives in cloud cuckoo land! Would love to hear more about your research on invisible women in HK
Well it is a whole chapter in my dissertation in your spare time 😉 I did a lot of work with films about sex workers and also interviewed some. But a colleague of mine was looking specifically at domestic helpers. He’s Filipino himself and also translated some texts (poetry and novels) from Tagalog to add more to the discourse. A lot about creating alternative home spaces because not only do a lot of these women leave family behind (including babies) but they also don’t have “rooms of their own” and on the one day off create cardboard box communal homes along the sidewalks. It thereby makes them extremely visible as a side effect.
The cardboard box - house was a HK thing (which he did a lot with) and is ubiquitous every Sunday. I was in total shock the first weekend I lived there. Here’s a clip - it’s pretty amazing. Some of the “houses” get elaborate.
I just watched both linked videos and so appreciate hearing these artists’ perspectives. Their messages are so powerful and important. Learning about the black experience (in the UK and USA) has been so enlightening and enraging, especially realizing how sheltered many (most?) white people are from it by design. These amazing women are doing the social, political, and cathartic work (beautifully and skillfully) that will truly change the world for the better. At least I hope. Thank you for shining a light on them and bringing them into my schema.
Thanks for reading, Laura and for your thoughts on this. They are amazing women making brilliant art. If you can get to the Courtauld to see Johnson's show it is really worth it!
Is the exhibition at the Courtauld still on (I'm googling) but it looks fantastic. Thank you so much for this, I hadn't heard of either of these artists before. The Gospel Oak letter is heartbreaking
Completely heartbreaking, yes. There are so many Windrush scandals like that. Yes, the Courtauld show is on until early Jan. DEFINITELY go if you can. I absolutely loved it.
Thank you for your wonderful insights in this post, Victoria. I hadn't heard of Barbara Walker's work before so it was fascinating to read about her Windrush project. Her 2024 exhibition at the Whitworth in Manchester is sure to be great, and I hope it transfers to London.
I'm hoping it transfers to Bristol!
What brilliant, thoughtful, brave artists. Great article, Victoria, I've learnt so much. I didn't really engage very much with the history of the Windrush scandal so some of this was new to me, to my shame.
Thanks for reading as always, Helen!
Powerful work on a huge topic. For school this semester (grad program, Visual and Critical Studies) we read a chapter by Nicole Fleetwood called Excess Flesh: Black Women Performing Hypervisibility that relates to this and I'm looking forward to going back to that article and looking for the connections with your piece here. Thank you for doing this work.
My own writing and research is in the niche of how art and mental health are related - including the less-discussed shadow side of how mental health symptoms impact creative process and content. Happy to exchange ideas if you'd find it at all helpful when you get to that theme in your work.
The Fleetwood article sounds really interesting. Yes I would definitely like to talk to you about your research, that would be great. I'll be in touch. Thanks Kathryn
The whole course has been interesting but that article stood out. Look forward to connecting with you.
Thanks again for another thought-provoking post (I tend to read them as can see the images too). I look forward to the stimulation of your next season.
The expression of that contradictory and confusing feeling of invisibility and hyper-visibility is fascinating and truthfully addressed by both artists.
Thanks for reading, Caroline. I am definitely interested in exploring this contradictory visible/invisible thing a bit more in relation to other groups.
Congrats on another compelling season. So happy to see your podcast continue and grow. Look forward to the informal posts as well!
Love this topic and Walker’s work especially. I found it so moving in person. I did a lot of research previously on invisible women in HK — mainly from India and the Philippines — often with the same kind of role you discuss. The truth is too far reaching. Interesting and important to consider the specific context in the U.K. now with all the debates over immigration. This group is one that’s scapegoated for so many problems when people don’t realise they are supporting society in so many ways. AND that they are individual humans with the same desires and ideas and potential as all the “others.” Thanks for another great topic.
'they are individual humans with the same desires and ideas and potential as all the “others.”' that's exactly it. I just think why would anyone want to come and live in the UK to do a difficult, badly paid job, and live here without their spouse and family? I just think the government lives in cloud cuckoo land! Would love to hear more about your research on invisible women in HK
Well it is a whole chapter in my dissertation in your spare time 😉 I did a lot of work with films about sex workers and also interviewed some. But a colleague of mine was looking specifically at domestic helpers. He’s Filipino himself and also translated some texts (poetry and novels) from Tagalog to add more to the discourse. A lot about creating alternative home spaces because not only do a lot of these women leave family behind (including babies) but they also don’t have “rooms of their own” and on the one day off create cardboard box communal homes along the sidewalks. It thereby makes them extremely visible as a side effect.
WOW! I need to know more! Where can I read about it? And I want to read your chapter too!
It is so great, his work. I’ll link you to Carlos’ current page but let me know if you want to get in touch personally.
https://dlsu.academia.edu/CarlosPiocos
The cardboard box - house was a HK thing (which he did a lot with) and is ubiquitous every Sunday. I was in total shock the first weekend I lived there. Here’s a clip - it’s pretty amazing. Some of the “houses” get elaborate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bKbt9Xx-Do
Just watched the video.
How extraordinary!
I just watched both linked videos and so appreciate hearing these artists’ perspectives. Their messages are so powerful and important. Learning about the black experience (in the UK and USA) has been so enlightening and enraging, especially realizing how sheltered many (most?) white people are from it by design. These amazing women are doing the social, political, and cathartic work (beautifully and skillfully) that will truly change the world for the better. At least I hope. Thank you for shining a light on them and bringing them into my schema.
Thanks for reading, Laura and for your thoughts on this. They are amazing women making brilliant art. If you can get to the Courtauld to see Johnson's show it is really worth it!
Is the exhibition at the Courtauld still on (I'm googling) but it looks fantastic. Thank you so much for this, I hadn't heard of either of these artists before. The Gospel Oak letter is heartbreaking
Completely heartbreaking, yes. There are so many Windrush scandals like that. Yes, the Courtauld show is on until early Jan. DEFINITELY go if you can. I absolutely loved it.