This exhibition exploring motherhood and class at the Baltic is one not to miss

‘Manual Labour’ evokes the dizzying and disorientating aspects of transitional periods in life, their potential to shatter our ideas of ‘self’ and the work of rebuilding identity.

HLN

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Where is it: Level 4, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead

How long is it running: Until 16 March 2025

When is it open: Wednesday – Sunday between 10.00am – 6.00pm

Price: Free entry

THE EXHIBITION

Hannah Perry’s ‘Manual Labour’ currently on display at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, offers an immersive exploration of the themes of motherhood, labour, and class through a rich multimedia experience.

The exhibition, which comprises film, sculpture, print, and sound, explores the process of becoming a mother and its creative and destructive power. As you walk around, you’ll delve into the profound changes that accompany motherhood and the physical and emotional tolls that come with it.

Perry was working artistically on a piece about intense manual labour when Covid-19 hit. During the time that the work was put on pause, she had her two children.

As a result, ‘Manual Labour’ is also a commentary on class and the often-invisible labour that underpins society. By highlighting the physicality of labour—whether it’s the labour of childbirth, the daily grind of work, or the emotional labour involved in parenting – Perry invites us to consider the value we place on different types of work and the people who perform them.

Her use of sound and video adds another layer to the experience, enveloping the viewer in a sensory environment that mirrors the overwhelming nature of the themes she explores.

There’s a choreographed mechanical sculpture that considers the physical act of labour, and a film that explores the questions posed by the transition into motherhood.

Jumping through personal and shared memory, reflected images, spoken elements, and soaring sound reflect a complex layering of the process and its impact on our physical body and mental health.

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT

Perry is known for her psychologically charged installations that explore industry, class, and gender. Her chosen materials, from steel to car lacquer and body wrap, are associated with manual occupations in manufacturing and industry.

The exhibition doesn’t just showcase art; it invites the viewer into a deeply personal narrative that resonates on both an intimate and societal level.

Her work captures the effects of economic forces and shifting cultural and social values.

Together, the works in ‘Manual Labour’ evoke the dizzying and disorientating aspects of transitional periods in life, their potential to shatter our ideas of ‘self’ and the work of rebuilding identity.

At the heart of the exhibition is a contemplation of the body and its capacities. Perry contrasts industrial materials—often cold, hard, and unyielding—with the warmth and vulnerability of human experience.

This juxtaposition creates a tension that reflects the struggle and beauty inherent in the process of becoming a mother, an experience that is both universal and uniquely personal. Her work challenges the traditional boundaries of art, blurring the lines between the personal and the political, the physical and the emotional.

More than just an exhibition, this is an experience that will linger with you long after you’ve left the gallery. It’s a call to reflect on the often-overlooked aspects of life—those that are gritty, painful, yet profoundly transformative.

Running until March 16, 2025, ‘Manual Labour’ is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersections of art, industry, and personal experience. Perry’s work is a reminder of the power of art to illuminate the complexities of the human condition in ways that are both challenging and deeply moving.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

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