The Art of ...

Artworks are living objects which emerge from a particular perspective at a particular moment, yet continue to exist in a changing world. Some historic artworks, and even images from popular culture, reflect racist attitudes. What do we do with imagery like this? Can we seal away the past or should we interrogate it? In short, what can we do with racist art? In this episode, artist, academic and founder of the groundbreaking BLK Art Group, Keith Piper discusses these questions with artist Larry Achiampong, art historian Nikki Frater PhD, playwright Jacqueline Malcolm and activist Jen Reid. The Art of Change coincides with Piper’s film installation, Viva Voce, 2024, which examines the racist imagery of a mural painted by Rex Whistler in 1927. Viva Voce is now open at Tate Britain.  **Please note, this episode refers to artworks that contain racist imagery and language.**This episode was produced by Adam Simons. The music was by Kieran Shuddall. Photo: © Rikard Österlund 

In our final episode of this mini-series, curator Linsey Young hears from women artists, photographers, film-makers and activists who were responding to the political upheavals in the 1980s. From photographs of protests such as the Greenham women’s peace camps to films about AIDS and racist attacks, their work documented and commented on the intense struggles and conflicts of the time.Linsey also finds out how the changing political landscape impacted on women’s ability to make and show political work.Featuring Pru Stevenson of See Red Women’s Workshop, Roshini Kempadoo, Loraine Leeson, Rita Keegan, Pratibha Parmar, Sutapa Biswas and Marlene Smith.Please note, this episode contains references to hate speech at 30:40 – 32:40 and racist attacks at 32:40 – 36:00.See the Women in Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024, at National Galleries of Scotland, Modern, Edinburgh 25 May 2024 – 26 January 2025, and at The Whitworth, University of Manchester, 7 March – 24 August 2025.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid. Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.

Curator Linsey Young finds out about group exhibitions by women of colour in the 1980s.Joined by artists and curators, she explores how their shows made women of colour visible and expressed the politics and realities of their experiences.From ‘CopyArt’ based on photographic self-portraits, to a giant avenging hindu goddess Kali, their work challenged stereotypes and was variously celebratory, sorrowful, satirical and urgent.Featuring Marlene Smith, Rita Keegan, Sutapa Biswas and Nina Edge.Please note, this episode contains references to police violence at 14:28 – 19:30 and hate speech at 28:42 – 29:18.See the Women in Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024, at National Galleries of Scotland, Modern, Edinburgh 25 May 2024 – 26 January 2025, and at The Whitworth, University of Manchester, 7 March – 24 August 2025.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid. Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.

In these next two episodes, curator Linsey Young hears from women activists and artists of colour about their experiences and work in the 1970s and 80s.In this episode, she learns about how women mobilised against racism and discrimination, and how artists challenged how art history was being taught. From involving lecturers in performances that challenged the Euro-centricity of art history to creating installations celebrating women artists of colour, they demanded greater visibility and opened up conversations about race, gender and colonialism in art.Featuring Nina Edge, Stella Dadzie, Sutapa Biswas and Marlene Smith.Please note, this episode contains references to police violence at 21:13 – 22:00.See the Women in Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024, at National Galleries of Scotland, Modern, Edinburgh 25 May 2024 – 26 January 2025, and at The Whitworth, University of Manchester, 7 March – 24 August 2025.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid. Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.

In episode three, curator Linsey Young investigates how the independent music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s liberated women from the expectations of the time. Joined by artists, musicians, writers and activists, she discovers how punk and industrial music created a space for women to express themselves on their own terms.From self-publishing fanzines and forming all-women bands, to creating art in response to sex-work, they challenged ideas about what a woman should be, and explored issues of sexuality, power and control.Featuring Gina Birch, Caroline Coon, Lucy Whitman and Cosey Fanni Tutti. Please note, this episode contains references to self harm at 03:35 – 04:10, sexual assault and rape at 10:44 – 11:21 and 41:10 – 43:00, racist violence at 13:43 – 14:50 and sex work at 29:05 – 43:50.See the Women in Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024, at National Galleries of Scotland, Modern, Edinburgh 25 May 2024 – 26 January 2025, and at The Whitworth, University of Manchester, 7 March – 24 August 2025.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid. Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.

Curator Linsey Young hears from women who were making work in the 1970s that commented on their roles in the family and in the home. From performing as a pregnant bunny girl in a cage at an agricultural show, to baking a life-sized family in a mobile home, their wildly original work received no attention in the art press.She also uncovers the origins of the Women’s Art Library in the late 1970s, when art history was almost exclusively male, and contemporary women artists faced an extremely challenging environment.Featuring Su Richardson, members of See Red Women’s Workshop (Pru Stevenson, Suzy Mackie and Anne Robinson), Shirley Cameron, Bobby Baker, Gee Vaucher and Felicity Allen.Please note, this episode contains references to domestic violence at 35:19 – 38.55.See the Women in Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024, at National Galleries of Scotland, Modern, Edinburgh 25 May 2024 – 26 January 2025, and at The Whitworth, University of Manchester, 7 March – 24 August 2025.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid.Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.

Curator Linsey Young introduces this 6-part mini-series about art, activism and the women’s movement in the UK in the 1970s and 80s. She remembers back to when she started researching the Women in Revolt! exhibition. Her quest to find work made in response to the Women’s Liberation Movement, punk, Margaret Thatcher, Section 28 etc. led her to meet the remarkable artists, activists and archivists whose stories inspired this podcast. New episodes drop every Monday from 6 November 2023.Featuring Margaret Harrison.The Women in Revolt! podcast series was made possible by the generous support of Lubaina Himid. Concept by Linsey Young. Research, interviews, recording, editing and production by Rosie Oliver for Tickertape Productions. Sound by Chris Maclean. Music from White Mice by Mo-dettes.See the Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990 exhibition at Tate Britain 8 November 2023 – 7 April 2024.

In this episode we revisit Paula Rego’s work to talk about the body, reproductive justice and abortion rights.Listen to Polyester Zine’s editor in chief, Ione Gamble and curator, writer and researcher, Maggie Matić talk to artists Polly Nor and Rene Matić about Paula Rego, their own work, and Polyester’s recent zine Saving Ourselves.See the Paula Rego exhibition at Tate Britain 7 July – 24 October 2021.**Please note that this episode contains sensitive content, including discussions on abortion which some audiences may find upsetting.**The Art of the Body is a Polyester Zine production for Tate. Produced by Ione Gamble, edited and produced by Olivia Graham.Photo: © Rikard Österlund