"Demand for genuine portrayals of the working-class way of life intensifies with a London exhibition spotlighting authentic depictions of Britain's working class"
In the heart of London, the exhibition "Lives Less Ordinary: Working-Class Britain Re-seen" is running at Two Temple Place until 20 April 2025. This thought-provoking display challenges the traditional representations of working-class life, offering a fresh perspective that celebrates the richness and diversity of working-class Britain.
Curated by Samantha Manton, the exhibition explores the intersection of class and queerness, providing a platform for queer working-class voices. It features over 150 pieces from 60 artists, including Rene Matić, Jasleen Kau, Corbin Shaw, Pearl Alcock, and Eric Tucker.
The exhibition is divided into three themes: family and kinship, the plurality of working-class cultures, and the sanctuary of leisure and pleasure. Roman Manfredi's photography, for instance, presents the "everydayness" of people who are proudly queer and proudly working-class. Alcock's paintings, on the other hand, reference the late-night shebeens or 'shubz', a part of her cultural heritage.
The exhibition juxtaposes the opulent architecture of Two Temple Place with the presentation of more modest livelihoods, creating a tongue-in-cheek contrast. Rebecca Hone, head of culture and community at Two Temple Place, believes that many of the artists in the exhibition deserve to be fully recognized within the lineage of British art history.
The show is a rejection of the middle-upper-class gaze that has steered working-class representation. It aims to move away from the tropes of urban degradation, manual labour, and hardship, instead portraying the resilience, joy, and complexity of working-class life.
"Lives Less Ordinary" asserts that representations of working-class life are integral to the identity of British art. It continues to celebrate and showcase artists like Pearl Alcock, an 'outsider artist' who was largely unknown, but whose works communicate a visual joy derived from her Jamaican heritage.
Visitors can subscribe to the Two Temple Place newsletter to receive daily inspiration, escapism, and design stories. The exhibition's website, twotempleplace.org, provides more information about the artists, their works, and the themes explored in the exhibition. This is a call to action for museums and galleries to include more authentic expressions of working-class life in their collections.
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