© Andrew Brooks
© Michael Pollard
© Andrew Brooks
The Uncertain Futures exhibition opened on 24 June 2021 with 100 live interviews taking place in a booth built to purpose in the gallery. Around the room Ford Madox Brown's historic painting Work was displayed, along with a video of an earlier project by Lacy on labour, women, and migration, Cleaning Conditions.
When the interviews were not taking place, indicated by a red recording light, visitors were invited inside the booth where a series of transcribed and anonymised interviews were displayed on clipboards. A graphic drawing on the wall represented a schematic look at the subject areas covered by the interviews. As part of the installation, when interviews weren't taking place a sound and text piece played on the window of the booth, one that expressed the Advisory Group's memories of work and retirement.
A social practice performance was designed with the Advisory Group as a way to thank the 100 women interviewees. In March 2022 we planned a glamorous evening with dinner in the Gallery main hall to honour their commitment to change and to thank them for sharing their stories. They came in their finery, sat at tables hosted by members of the Advisory Group, and experienced themselves at the centre of an elegant celebration. This was a key networking opportunity and a chance to share and develop agency about issues affecting women over 50 and work.
