1853 Studios is proud to present RIPPED: An exhibition by Helen Davies and Wendy Roby.
PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday 8th February 2024, 6-9PM (All welcome, just turn up!)
Public View (after preview) by appointment: 9th - 18th February
Thursday 11AM - 4PM
Friday 11AM - 4PM
Saturday 11AM - 4PM
Please email luca@1853studios.co.uk or book a viewing via eventbrite - here
Ripped is an exploration of female strength; both literal, physical and domestic. Featuring the work of artists Helen Davies and Wendy Roby, RIPPED is a show of knit, print and illustrative artworks that takes in wrestling, strong women, gym culture (and budgies).
Helen is excited about tattoos as folk art and talismans of strength. For a while she has been asking for volunteers to submit their tattoos representing strength in any form - physical, mental or otherwise. Helen is creating a huge hulking suit of knitted tattooed muscles, and will eventually wear the suit, warding off bad luck and negative energy with a shared portfolio of strength symbols.
Helen has also mixed the images of an archetypal Victorian strongwoman with a peeved woman in 2024 who just wants to go about her life in a red cossie without being harangued all the time.
Wendy has been inspired by sparkly 1970s wrestler Big Daddy to create her own alter ego: BIG MUMMY, who battles against the budget squeezes of austerity Britain. She has also been inspired by this extremely camp BBC archive footage (https://fb.watch/psUpmL0RQ1/) about Jill Capes (wife of strong man Geoff), and her Herculean efforts to feed him 12,000 calories a day. Wendy’s print and illustration works include reproductions of vintage wrestling posters, bitchy avocado pen and ink drawings of Geoff’s budgies and huge posters of all the pilchards she was forced to cook.
The show is a work in progress that celebrates and skewers oiled muscles, atlas tattoos and the women who BODYSLAM the tedium of domesticity and humourless gym bros. We’d love to share a glass of bad wine and see you there!
Location Address:
1853 Studios and Gallery
Osborne Mill
Entrance on Waddington Street
Oldham
OL9 6QQ
Is the gallery wheelchair accessible?
No - there are 2 steps at the main entrance, and then the gallery is accessible via lift (3rd floor). It may be suitable for those with limited mobility.
Will there be refreshments?
Light refreshments, on a first come first served basis.
Are dogs allowed?
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the space, only assistance dogs are allowed in the gallery space.
Is there free parking?
Yes, there is a free car park on site. Entrance via Waddington Street.
Is it accessible via public transport?
Yes, Westwood Tram Stop is 10 minutes walk from our studios.