The concept

Birth Rites is an artist-led exhibition which investigates birth as an act of self-determination. In the context of 20 th Century advances in technology, the shift towards medical intervention in birth, coupled with societies pre-occupation with propelling women onto an equal footing with men in the workplace, possibly reducing womens' importance as mothers. How free are we to give birth in a way we want and where we want?

This exhibition seeks to unite artists both male and female, midwives and medical professionals, to explore the social, cultural and political implications of our roles in giving birth.

Having given birth myself in hospital, culminating in an emergency cesarean, then having my second child at home, I believe there is a way forward which is more intuitive and less medical. However, it is my initial experience in hospital that spurred me to questioning our society's approach to birth.

My aim is to commission five new installations/artworks juxta-posing them with ten objects sourced from collections around the world associated with childbirth. I will be looking for artists who work in a variety of mediums from film, new media, sound to painting and sculpture. My intention is to couple each artist with a medic/obstetrician, midwife or social commentator in this field to produce the installations. This will involve a great deal of initial engagement between the two practitioners, research and understanding of each professional's practice. This is so that a residency can take place, with each one of the five artists in situ at the health practitioners place of work for a period of time.