Wearer Unknown

An exhibition of paintings, Wearer Unknown, by artist Victoria Brookland has opened at the  Parsonage as part of the museum’s contemporary arts programme. The series of new works have been inspired by the dresses in the Parsonage collection, and each is hand-drawn in ink and watercolour.

It is the second time that Victoria Brookland has exhibited her work at the Parsonage. Her first exhibition, Secret Self, in 2007, explored the contradictions between the constricting dresses that the Brontës wore – with their corsets and crinolines – and the brilliance of their limitless inner imaginations. This is a theme that Victoria has returned to and has developed further in her latest series, Wearer Unknown.

“The items of Brontë clothing in the collection are amongst the most striking and popular exhibits here at the museum and in these paintings Victoria Brookland uses the dress as a symbol to question our over-familiarity with the Brontës. Her work is incredibly powerful and beautiful, and prompts us to think about the sisters’ lives in new ways”.

Jenna Holmes, Arts Officer

All of the paintings in the exhibition are for sale. Victoria Brookland will be talking about her work at an event in Haworth on Friday 4 June at 3.30pm. The event will take place at the West Lane Baptist Centre and tickets are £5 on the door. She will be in conversation with Jane Sellars,  Curator of Art at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate.

The exhibition runs until Sunday 18 July 2010.