Today was the centenary of the women’s vote and to mark the occasion 209 women photographed 209 of the female MPs. The opening was held today in Portcullis House in the Parliamentary Square. You can read more about the project here.

On the whole, I make a point of avoiding female only shows in favour of a more egalitarian approach, but I made an exception for Hilary Woods, who is hard working and cares a great deal about the awareness of this campaign and whom I knew via lecturing at Norwich University of Arts for the time I was there.

I asked specifically to photograph Angela Rayner and this is what I wrote in our brief descriptive handouts for the opening.

“For me it was very important to photograph Angela in particular as her work reflects a great solidarity for the working class and stands as a representation for those who struggle.
We spoke briefly about how to encapsulate her history here at parliament and we did so by showing her in her ‘old office’ where she used to work before she had a real office, on the bench outside surrounded by trees. I think this image is true to my work and hers, shot on film in true authenticity, no photoshop, no frills, just honesty and labour.”

 Photo credit of me by my photo of Angela by Rosemary Despres.