21 May 2018
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A new exhibition at Knole in Kent, A Woman’s Place, tells the stories of women who have contributed to Knole’s spirit and history, using the work of six contemporary artists.
A new exhibition at Knole in Kent, A Woman’s Place, tells the stories of women who have contributed to Knole’s spirit and history, using the work of six contemporary artists.
The exhibition, which opened on 17 May 2018, highlights the progression to equality through creative interventions at the 600 year-old former archbishop’s palace, royal residence and home to the Sackville family for four centuries.
A Woman’s Place sees the six commissioned artists respond to themes of women and power through sculpture, film, online content and other interventions throughout the house and grounds at the historic home of the Sackville family The project explores love, betrayal, class, gender and inheritance and gives a voice to some of Knole’s most fascinating – and unrecognised – women.
Women’s rights impacted significantly on those who have lived at Knole. In 1928, the rules of inheritance and the familial tradition of passing the house to a male heir prevented Vita Sackville-West, the only child of the 3rd Baron Sackville, from inheriting.
The 'fight for equality'
Lucy Day, Director of A Woman’s Place, said: “Knole gives us new ways to see how the lives of women have been – and continue to be – influenced by notions of gender, place and time. The responses by these six inspiring artists, in media ranging from website to sculpture and sound across this fascinating site, provide a space to pause and reflect on the historic – and current – fight for equality in this anniversary year.”
Experience A Woman’s Place in the house and grounds at Knole from Thursday 17 May to Sunday 4 November 2018. Normal admission applies; free for National Trust members. The showrooms are open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-4pm. To find out more about visiting Knole, see their website.
(images: Knole copyright James Dobson, portrait copyright Lindsay Seers and Keith Argent)
