DD2000: Design Practice - Contemporary Exhibitions 2

Earlier this year when we attended the Manchester Art Gallery, me and Rosie had a look at several other exhibitions aside from the jewellery exhibit I have already reviewed for DD2000.  Today is now the very last day of DD2000 work! I gave my PechaKucha presentation this morning (shiverrrr,relieved that's done!) and am now at home, slowly getting down 300 final words for this review and making chicken risotto.  Here goes...I put any mistakes down to my lack of sleep -.-

The exhibition was called In Translation: Women, Migration and Business. As dull as that sounds on paper, it was a gorgeous exhibit.  There were these huge lithographic prints, given to Manchester Art Gallery in the 30's but not revealed till the 90's.  This was because people didn't like the way the British Empire was portrayed.  It was propaganda for migration in the Empire, of such stunning and colourful design that it effectively disguised what was actually 'ruthless colonial domination'.

Women were made to look as if they easily adapted to the change in their lifestyle, with the new trade and British Exports from the West Indies and other foreign countries.  It was great as an illustrator to see powerful examples of design.  These essentially created an illusion of peace to present to the public and other countries, that we look back on with hindsight and find contrary to the truth we know now. With fair trade and gender equality being such important issues our society, I thought this was a very exciting and relevant exhibition, well suited to such a culturally popular venue in Manchester.

The exhibition featured a huge panorama that went full circle in a ring in the centre of the main room. It was very interesting in that it contrasted totally with the other art in the room. It showed a life drawing class at the Lowry, with various women drawing a model.  And at the end, there was a questionnaire asking everyone who visited to write down ‘what does it mean to be British?’.  It was an good question, having just been faced with the propaganda about trade that the Britain we know today is based on.  I really liked the cultural issues in the past that this exhibit looked at, and although it was uncomfortable viewing in a way, the beautiful posters were worth the visit.
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