HOLDING THE BABY
On show at Arnolfini 19th February 2022 to Sunday, 12th June 2022
The book is now out!
In 2019 Philip Alston, a United Nations poverty expert, came to the UK to look at the effects of austerity. His conclusion was that single parents have been hardest hit.
Having become a single parent myself I started to look at some of the prejudices and policies that impact the parent who has stayed. With help from charities, law firms, community hubs, arts and women’s organisations, we have been in touch with single parents asking them to be part of this project.
Over the last two years I have worked with Fran, Jahanara, Charmaine, Aaron, Barbeline, Caroline, Gemma, Carike and their families to represent each of their stories. I learned about their sense of adventure, optimism, creativity, ambition and resilience, transcending the often difficult situations they face. These photographs have been made in collaboration : some have even been taken by the parent themselves, after setting up the camera and lights.
Journalist Sally Williams interviewed the parents and excerpts from these conversations are displayed alongside the photographs and played through speakers in the exhibition.
Writer Claire-Louise Bennett has created a word collage with a wider group of single parents, sharing their reflections on ‘the favourite thing in their home.’
Statistician Rob Minto has looked into the data to find key information about what it means to be a single parent in the UK today.
Curated by Sinéad McCarthy at Museum of the Home
Opening at Museum of the Home in East London, 12th June, 2021. The show then tours to Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, October 2021, and Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, February 2022, Bristol. We will also be collaborating with selected public institutions, including The Idea Store, Whitechapel, The Hive, Shropshire, Liverpool Libraries, Baraka community cafe, Bristol.
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