Group Exhibition “What did they tell you?”

“What did they tell you?”  is an exhibition showcasing the work of 38 women, trans and gender diverse artists and their difficult experiences with medical misogyny.

The show was devised by artist Em Hatton after her own challenges navigating the health system, having recently been diagnosed with endometriosis after 20 years of symptoms. Angered by the discovery that her experience of medical misogyny seems to be the norm rather than the exception –and the things doctors have told her, such as “you should just have a baby to cure your pain”  and “you have an undiagnosed pain syndrome” – Em was motivated to develop "What did they tell you”. 

The artists have channelled their personal experiences with illness and how they are treated by the medical establishment into a colourful, vibrant and powerful collection of works across multiple mediums including painting, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, video and sound.

Exhibiting artists vary in art practice, age, identity, illness and background. But they all have  one thing in common – navigating a medical system that overlooks and denies their needs, experiences, pain and symptoms.

This exhibition is a connection point for people with shared lived experience, and an opportunity for people who have been dismissed over and over to share their experience and be validated and seen by their community.

Exhibition attendees have the opportunity to purchase artworks throughout the show, to meet the artists on opening night, and will be invited to share their own experiences on an interactive board.