Kaleidoscope-o-rama Travelling Bluestocking Salon – London – MOTHER TONGUE
Bethan Laura Wood
‘Mother Tongue’ by designer Bethan Laura Wood – a kaleidoscopic exhibition and programme of salons.
Presented by Nicoletta Fiorucci, ‘Mother Tongue’ is part of Bethan Laura Wood’s ‘Travelling Bluestocking Salon’ series, which draws inspiration from the 18th-century Bluestockings Society—one of Britain’s first feminist groups advocating for the arts, philanthropy, support and learning.
The exhibition celebrates objects, mementoes, and talismans gifted by loved ones who have inspired creative futures. A series of key figures from London’s art, design, and fashion communities have been invited to contribute these precious objects, which will be displayed in custom wall pieces and platforms created by Bethan with her iconic ‘book-block’ veneer patterns. The exhibition and talks programme have been developed with curator Libby Sellers and realised with curator Vittoria de Franchis.
Over three weeks, five Mother Tongue Salons brought the space to life through conversations and readings with collaborators including Attua Aparicio, Saelia Aparicio, Alvaro Barrington, Gary Card, Nicoletta Fiorucci, Martino Gamper, Susannah Gibson, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Emily King, Charlotte Kingsnorth, Rio Kobayashi, Frith Kerr, Hugo Macdonald, Jasper Morrison, Joanna Piotrowska, Alice Rawsthorn, Zandra Rhodes, Tai Shani, Lou Stoppard, and Francis Upritchard.
The exhibition is enhanced by ‘Sibu’, a site-specific sound installation by Lydia Ourahmane, and ‘Mamma Luna’, a performative intervention by artist-in-residence Matilde Cerruti Quara for the Frieze Open House Programme, both curated by Vittoria de Franchis.
Visual communication by Ada Karayel.
