The Naughton Gallery launches its 2025 programme and marks the beginning of Queen’s University Belfast’s 180th anniversary celebrations with Call Me Mother, a solo exhibition by Sarah Maple.

Call Me Mother delves into the artist’s relatively recent experiences of motherhood, centring around Labour of Love (2022), a photographic installation visualising the 650 times her baby was fed over the course of three months. Comprising 650 images of Maple and her child, each photograph includes a hand-finished element concealing the artist’s face. In Maple’s own words, “The aim is to highlight the sheer volume of work that is expected of mothers and to challenge people to rethink the value of the time spent. Raising a child is seen as a female task, not a real job, thus unpaid and undervalued. Addressing this and rectifying the situation is the unfinished work of feminism”.

Ultimately, Call Me Mother offers a candid exploration of the realities of motherhood, shedding light on its undervalued labour while challenging societal perceptions of women during and after pregnancy. Provoking meaningful dialogue, the exhibition reaffirms Maple's role as an artist unafraid to tackle essential and timely issues.

EXHIBITION LAUNCH THU 09 JAN 2024, 5:30-8PM

Join us for the opening reception of CALL ME MOTHER. Free admission. Refreshments provided. All welcome.

ART IN THE A.M. WITH SARAH MAPLE AT 10 JAN 2024, 11AM - 12PM

Sarah is in conversation with the Naughton Gallery team. Attendance is free and refreshments are provided.