Exhibition Launch: Dyson Gallery, London – 20th July 2018
‘First Women UK’ will be exhibiting the full 100 portraits in a striking and immersive exhibition at the Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art in London from the 20th July 2018 to the 22nd August. Free entry. To mark the anniversary of the centenary of women’s ‘right to vote’, photographer Anita Corbin officially unveils her empowering 10 year project documenting 100 pioneering 21st Century women who have achieved the landmark title ‘First Woman’ across a range of disciplines including sport, media, military, faith, business, arts, music and politics. Ordinary women achieving extraordinary things.
The exhibition includes portraits from celebrities such as Suzi Quatro, Angela Rippon, Jenny Éclair and Victoria Coren-Mitchell, well known leaders such as Nicola Sturgeon, Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin and Dame Inga Beale to profile sports stars such as Explorer Felicity Aston and Olympic Gold Medalist Nicola Adams. Ages range from 18 to 102 years and fields of expertise from beatboxing to bomb detection. An impressive visual story of female potential, for men and women of all generations.
In a long history dominated by notable males, First Women UK asks ‘what is it about women that can inspire you?’
First Women UK’s patron, Baroness Betty Boothroyd, First Woman Speaker of the House of Commons, is leading a number of ambassadors to pioneer the project: growing the awareness of the possibilities available to women, not just in business – but to inspire and encourage the viewer to define what their own path is and what personal achievement really means. There is a difference between changing the world – and changing your own world and First Women UK bridges that gap.
Dany Cotton, First Woman to be Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, explains ‘Anything that enables other women is a great thing. It’s so important that we make it easier for all women to believe it’s possible to achieve their goals’
The National Portrait Gallery have purchased eight of the portraits for the nation’s archive and a book of the entire First Women UK collection launches later in 2018. First Women UK’s creator Anita Corbin shares her inspiration “With more images being made than ever before, I wanted to provide an alternative to the mainstream and create images of women that demand people look beyond the exterior and find the inner truth. I wanted to celebrate the impact women have had on society over the last 100 years. I hope that the First Women series will inspire future generations and help them see that it is possible to break down barriers whether they are social, economic, cultural or political. I want these powerful images to offer emotional support to women who seek to be the best they can be; those women who want to aim high and will look at my pictures and see they are not alone.”
The exhibition of the full 100 portraits shows at the Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, Riverside, 1 Hester Road London SW11 4AN 20th July until 22nd August. Everyday of the week 12-5pm. Free Entry
