Monica Sjöö The time is NOW and it is overdue! is initiated by Minna Haukka of Feminist Library and co-curated with Naomi Siderfin and David Crawforth of Beaconsfield.
That the personal is political[1] was never in question for Swedish artist and activist Monica Sjöö (1938-2005). Sjöö’s personal sense of anguish for the earth, and political anger about systemic violence against women were entwined and expressed through the celebration of the rituals of Goddess cultures and non-binary ways of living that characterised her art and activism. A defiance of patriarchy and acute awareness of ecological issues is demonstrated in the body of work brought together for this exhibition of largely unseen paintings and mixed media drawings at Beaconsfield, courtesy of the Estate of Monica Sjöö.
This collaboration between Beaconsfield, Feminist Library and the Estate of Monica Sjöö, brings Sjöö’s life and work into fresh focus. Her unapologetic figuration predates contemporary articulations of an Ecofeminism that regards climate crisis, colonialism and ever-present militarism as interlocking systems of oppression. The urgency of these issues now in 2022 was felt then in 1971: ‘The time is NOW and it is overdue!’[2]
The exhibition of 56 paintings and drawings by Monica Sjöö is placed in contemporary context through a programme of performances, workshops, reading groups and symposia by contemporary artists and writers invited to respond to the issues explored by Sjöö in her life and work.
Contributing artists and writers include:
Sally Pomme Clayton, Katy Deepwell, Rachel Fallon, Caitlin Fleming, Rachel Garfield, Una Hamilton Helle, Minna Haukka, Harriet Hill, Sam Hodge, Islaja, Annie Johnston, Kara Keeling, Alexandra Kokoli, Kristin Luke, Nad Ma, Bindu Mehra, Liz Murray, Maggie Parks, Fran Painter Fleming, Linda Persson, Raju Rage, Anne Robinson, Anita Slater, Tansy Spinks, Atau Tanaka, Tears|Ov, Rupert White, Linsey Young.