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Gender, Identity and Art: Breaking the Archetypal Mould

Looking back to look forward

Unity Theatre Bar, 1 Hope Pl, Liverpool L1 9BG

Collective Encounters is delighted to launch a brand new exhibition created by Women in Action. This exhibition explores the changing representations of gender, sexuality and women. 

The artworks interrogate identity through archetypes such as the fool, the sage, the caregiver, the outlaw, the ruler, and more. These archetypes form symbols which represent human behaviour and personality in order to help us understand ourselves and what influences us. From a social justice perspective, a critical understanding of archetypes means moving from the personal to the collective. Often influenced by patriarchal and heteronormative ideas and the goals of capitalism, challenging these stereotypes helps to reveal the structure of society in order to break free, change the rules and celebrate who we are.

Women in Action have been working at a grassroots level to use and dismantle these figures in order to address themes of health, wellbeing, women’s working conditions, LGBT+ identity and their intersections with class struggle.

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Exhibition launch – Tuesday 13th May, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Come along to meet the artists and chat about their work

Exhibition opens Wednesday 7th May and runs until 3rd August 2025

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This exhibition is part of Collective Encounters’ Radical Retrospectives programme, celebrating and archiving 21 years of the organisations’ work across the Liverpool City Region.