Exhibition
Petra Bauer : Sisters!
22 Feb-23 Mar 2025
Fruitmarket
Edinburgh EH1 1DF
Overview
Open daily 11am–6pm.
Screening times: 11.00, 12.15, 13.30, 14.45, 16.00 (72 minutes, with 3 minutes between screenings)
It is only when a film meets an audience that it can be considered to be a political act. That is, it is only when a film is heard and seen in the public sphere that we can speak of it doing something.
- Petra Bauer
Fruitmarket and the University of Edinburgh Art Collection present the first major exhibition of Sisters! by Swedish artist and filmmaker Petra Bauer. Screened at a large scale in the Warehouse, the film, in this immersive installation, creates a space for audiences to engage with Bauer’s thought-provoking exploration of feminist activism.
Bauer often takes collaborative approaches to addressing socio-political issues in her work. For Sisters! she collaborated with Southall Black Sisters (SBS) – a London-based feminist activist organisation, which, for over 40 years, has advocated for the rights of Black and minority women in the UK.
Founded in response to the 1979 rise of fascism and police violence in Southall, London, SBS continues the fight against racism, misogyny, classism, violence against women, and religious fundamentalism. The film acts as a celebration of SBS and their ongoing work, and a testament to the enduring power of solidarity in the fight against systemic oppression. Through thoughtfully layered storytelling and a methodical focus on the ordinary, day-to-day activities of SBS, Sisters! foregrounds the ongoing activism of the organisation and the daily challenges faced when fighting for social and political change. The film gracefully intertwines historical struggles with contemporary movements for equity.
This exhibition is a rare opportunity to experience and engage with a politically charged, powerful artwork that celebrates film as a tool for change.
Content note. The film includes verbal references to racism, immigration processes, citizenship issues, alcohol misuse, domestic abuse, forced marriage, miscarriage, and sexual violence. While these issues are discussed, the work is visually non-violent and is an affirming exploration of collaborative feminism.
