Gallery REVIEW: Hag. Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft - ★★★★★

Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
May 2
3 min read

Fife Contemporary are pleased to announce Hag. Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft, an exhibition challenging perceptions of women and craft open in Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries.

Provocatively titled but thoughtfully curated, Hag. will bring together the work of 13 of Scotland’s most inventive, creative and impactful women craft artists, including Lise Bech, Judith Davies, Caroline Dear, Claire Heminsley, Fiona Hutchison, Ruth Elizabeth Jones, Gilly Langton, Jo McDonald, Susie Redman, Patricia Shone, Carol Sinclair, Amanda Simmons and Emma Louise Wilson. Celebrating the knowledge, power & alchemy mediated by their work, the exhibition will celebrate craft skills and approaches to practice developed by these significant women over decades of work and personal endeavour.

The mastery of their own craft skills is what unites these 13 women. Visitors to this exhibition can expect to see contemporary approaches to constructing forms through tapestry, basket weaving, and work in paper and textile, as well as work formed through transformative material processes such as kiln-firing glass, hand forming clay, or enameling and silversmithing. The relationship between artist and their close surroundings is also a theme, either as a source of inspiration, or directly as a source for the materials themselves.

Curated by Kate Pickering, the exhibition seeks to reclaim and redefine the term ‘Hag’ for the current age by celebrating the strength, wisdom, activism, rebelliousness and creativity of craftswomen. The exhibition has ambitious aims to challenge societal prejudices and foster a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of experiences that women who engage intensively with their craft bring to contemporary culture.

"I’m so excited to be able to bring this exhibition to Dunfermline. The show connects the historical power of craft with the narratives of these remarkable women and reclaims the term “hag” by turning it into a symbol of empowerment. My aim for this exhibition is to show how skill and creativity can transform materials and perceptions alike." – Curator, Kate Pickering

"This exhibition is going to be empowering and invigorating for women across Fife, and artists across Scotland. It is going to be such a privilege for Fife Contemporary to bring the work of these 13 Scottish Craft Artists to the Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries – this great cultural asset in the heart of the city of Dunfermline." – Fife Contemporary Director, Kate Grenyer

Where?

Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, until 8th June

WEBSITE

MIX UP REVIEWS:

Stewart - ★★★★★

"A stunning exhibition, well laid and thought out. I was particularly taken by Jo McDonald's works - the ripped up bits of old books taking on a new shape and form.

The theme and even the title are a little controversial perhaps but it's taking ownership of female creatvity arts and connection to nature, whilst considering the hardships of the women who faced accusations of witchraft many years ago for having a similar originality.

The books, video and even art activities and hands on in the last room of the gallery are an excellent addition. A thought provoking, atmospheric and powerful free exhibition to take in whilst in Dunfermline.

We've done a lot of work on Scottish witch trials (as well as Arthur Miller's The Crucible) over the past few years at Mix Up Theatre as a stimulus for devising so this was of real interest."