MARY BRANSON

et me show for Branson’s latest artwork New – now backed by new says. She went on to receive a first you one of Dawn, due to be unveiled in Mayor . But while we class honours degree in fine art my favourite June (when it will be revealed might have to wait until 2018 for from the Surrey Institute in 2002, places,” says for the first time). It will become that, Branson’s game-changing followed by an MA in art and L artist and the first official commemoration work puts the space at Kingston University in former of the suffragettes in the Houses squarely at the seat of power. 2004 and now specialises in of artist-in- of Parliament. New Dawn, a bold, beautiful creating conceptual large-scale residence at Parliament (the Until now, visitors to Parliament light installation, will be positioned installations using sculpture, residence lasts one year), Mary could be forgiven for assuming in St Stephen’s Hall, the public light and sound. Branson, enthusiasm radiating that women have had little, if any, entrance to the House of A proud feminist, she has from her as we enter the House part to play in Britain’s political Commons, through which also created a memorial for of Commons. history. While there are around 100 generations of women fighting Emily Davison in the House We walk into a small, rather monuments, excluding kings and for the vote passed to lobby Epsom (where Davison was nondescript, air-conditioned queens, just six are of women and, Parliament. It will alter not only knocked down and killed by This month, artist Mary Branson will unveil Parliament’s room crammed with thousands of of these, Margaret Thatcher and the artistic landscape of King George V’s horse during tightly rolled scrolls. At first glance Nancy Astor, the first female MP, Parliament, but also make a long- the Derby in 1913). Yet to be first ever artwork commemorating the suffragettes. She it’s a little underwhelming – until are both depicted twice. In overdue statement about constructed, the concrete tells Stylist what it’s like to make a piece of history you realise that this is the Act , the green women’s participation in public sculpture is based on the Room and, on the scrolls, are facing the Houses of Parliament, life for generations to come. symbol for women, a circle WORDS: POLLY DUNBAR PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK HARRISON written centuries’ worth of Acts there are 11 imposing statues with a cross, and was of Parliament. And somewhere, celebrating male leaders from POLITICAL ART designed so that, once nestled on these shelves, is the to Nelson Branson, 51, who lives a year at dusk on 8 June nation-shaping Representation Mandela but there isn’t one – not in Guildford, Surrey, was (the anniversary of of the People Act of 1918, which a single one – of a female who a flight attendant until she Davison’s death) the allowed women to vote for the first has altered our political landscape. became a mother and, at setting sun will appear time. This act, the culmination of Earlier in the year, this sparked the age of 34, decided to in the centre of the the movement’s long, feminist activist Caroline Criado- study fine art. “ realised circle. Stylist often brutal campaign, has for the Perez to campaign for a statue I had to do something that met her past year provided the inspiration commemorating the suffragettes made me happy in life,” she exclusively to

ARTIST MARY BRANSON’S NEW DAWN IS A WATERSHED IN COMMEMORATING THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT

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discuss her time as a period of momentum, where suffragette artist-in- women are making a lot of gains. residence at the Houses How can art make a difference? of Parliament, why female political If women are underrepresented in activists have been ignored by art art, it sends a message about their and history and the importance of place in the world. If a little girl feminist art. “We live in a society visits Parliament and only sees where we can choose to live how statues and paintings of men, we want because of the suffrage what will she think? It’s vital she movement,” she says. “It’s really sees something celebrating important to champion it.” women, too. What is it about the suffragettes I was working with a group of that inspires you so much? BRANSON TOOK INSPIRATION female prisoners at HMP Send While I was researching for New FROM THE SCROLLS IN at the same time as working in Dawn, I read the transcripts of THE HOUSE OF COMMONS’ ACT Parliament, and it was amazing ROOM FOR NEW DAWN notes written by suffragettes to hear how inspired they were who were in prison. The original by my suffrage project. They were women, and how powerful we are How significant is it that this notes were written on toilet paper fascinated by the details of the as a group. I’ve always been artwork is in the House of because they weren’t allowed to suffragettes’ experiences in prison, surrounded by strong women Commons? correspond with anyone. There which they could relate to. They who have inspired me. When I was Not only is it in the space where the was one woman – someone admired their courage and strength a single mum, it was my female public and MPs enter the Commons ordinary, just like ourselves – who and got a great deal from stories friends who supported me. but it’s where the suffrage petitions had gone on a march, broken they hadn’t heard before. Hopefully were delivered. One protestor some glass and ended up in The Houses of Parliament many more women will be similarly chained herself to the statue of Holloway Prison doing hard labour feel extremely traditional and inspired by seeing New Dawn. Viscount Falkland here. And for three months. She hadn’t had masculine. Did you experience beneath the installation is the Do you think we’re at a turning a chance to tell her husband where any negative reactions to cupboard where Emily Davison hid point in recognising key female she was going, and she had a son. celebrating the suffragettes? overnight on the night of the 1911 political figures? She was in shock and really I spent six months talking to census so her place of residence Yes. New Dawn is a powerful image scared, and when I read her letters everyone from MPs to tour guides would be the House of Commons. in a powerful position that was I thought, ‘God, I’d be so scared and security guards in the She wanted to highlight that, commissioned by parliament. That’s if that happened to me.’ It’s the Commons to hear their views although included on the census, a very important step. I want it to ordinariness of the way they talked about art, politics and the women still weren’t allowed to vote. encourage people to ask questions about their hopes and fears that suffragettes. I expected some and realise the complexity and you can really relate to. Yes, this tricky reactions, especially from Why do you think suffragettes impact of the suffragette happened 100 years ago, but it some of the male MPs – I worried are finally getting the public story. Also the planned statue in could be happening to you or I now. they might not be interested in the recognition they deserve? Parliament Square is a positive sign To be honest I didn’t know a lot suffrage movement, or that they At the moment is taking that everyone agrees the situation about them growing up, because wouldn’t want a contemporary on a new lease of life, particularly needs to change. I hope my work we didn’t learn any women’s history artwork somewhere so steeped in among the younger generation, will be the first of many more by at school, which is terrible. I learnt a tradition. But everybody across who are using social media to women, celebrating women. We lot when I designed a memorial to different parties and ages get their voices heard. There’s all owe a debt to the women Emily Davison to be placed at expressed the same view – that more attention on issues such as who campaigned for the Epsom Downs but I’ve always had a an artwork celebrating women the need to increase the number vote and it’s vital that we passion for making artwork about was long overdue. of female MPs. I think we’re in publicly recognise that.

Remembering the suffragettes

Stylist tracks down the too few examples of artwork commemorating women’s suffrage around the UK, and the statues to come

MARY BAMBER STATUE, ELEANOR RATHBONE THE SUFFRAGETTE MEMORIAL STATUE, LIVERPOOL STATUE, MANCHESTER IN LONDON DESIGNED LIVERPOOL BY EDWIN RUSSELL A mosaic sculpture of suffragette A public art commission entitled The WoManchester Statue Project Mary Bamber is on display in the Remembering Eleanor Rathbone has chosen Emmeline Pankhurst as Museum of Liverpool. Created by was launched this year to the first woman to have a statue in Carrie Reichhardt and Nick Reynold commemorate the first female Manchester in over 100 years. It will in 2011, the base is tiled with the member of Liverpool city council. be unveiled on International names of her fellow suffragettes. Women’s Day in 2019. ALICE HAWKINS SUFFRAGETTE MONUMENT, LEICESTER SUFFRAGETTE STATUE, MEMORIAL, LONDON Following the release of the film LONDON Designed by Edwin Russell, this Suffragette, an anonymous donor Last month, London Mayor Sadiq huge bronze sculpture in the shape donated £80,000 to fund a statue Khan agreed to erect a statue of of a scroll sits in Christchurch commemorating Leicester’s a suffragette in Parliament Square Gardens. The text honours those suffragette leader. It will be by 2018. It follows a campaign by who ‘braved derision, opposition erected next year in Leicester Caroline Criado-Perez and a petition and ostracism, many enduring market where Hawkins delivered which accrued more than 70,000

physical violence and suffering’. many speeches. signatures including JK Rowling. S MANAGEMENT AND HAIR MAKE-UP: AT ROSE ANGUS

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