Sarah's sharing experiences of motherhood

A hugely successful immersive art installation called The Other in Mother is appearing at Gallery Oldham this month.

Created by artist Sarah Greaves, the installation explores the diverse experiences people have when they become a mother.

The moving and powerful exhibit saw more than 1,500 visitors when it launched at Manchester Art Gallery in September.  

The immersive arts installation explores the psychological transition to motherhood, through various objects, which represent life before and after motherhood and has been an interactive collaborative project through social media and a number of creative workshops.

With the support of Manchester Art Gallery, Arts Council England, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Cheshire East Council, Stockport-based well-being charity Arc commissioned artist Sarah Greaves to produce the installation, building on a creative programme that had been run at Arc with vulnerable mums.

Following a period of research and development with women with perinatal depression and health professionals, and an interactive social media campaign, Sarah has created an installation of manipulated objects representing diverse experiences of motherhood and maternal transition.

Jacqui Wood, Arc’s artistic director, said: "I’m really looking forward to seeing the reaction of Oldham mums to Sarah’s magical, haunting space, and sharing their experiences of motherhood with us."

Katy MacCall, family learning manager at Manchester Art Gallery, said: "Having the launch of the Other in Mother at Manchester Art Gallery was a real privilege.

"I was amazed at how many people connected with the themes in the artwork, there was a real buzz and warmth in the gallery.

"People coming together to share experiences and feel less alone.

"I noticed many members of staff from the gallery re-visiting the display to read and reflect on women's stories of maternal transition." 

Lead artist Sarah Greaves said: "I asked mothers on social media to think about their own maternal transition. What for them were the psychological impacts of becoming a mother and what object might represent that shift?

"The response was overwhelming, over 60 women contributed with images and stories from all over the world. These have really informed the final piece and the manipulated objects that hang inside the dome."

The Other in Mother is at Gallery Oldham Thursday, October 18, from 10am to 5pm and Friday, October 19, from 10am to 3pm.

Sarah will be running a drop-in workshop for mums and babies at the Go Babies session on Thursday, October 18 from 10.30am to 12 noon.

More details for all events are found on the project website: www.theotherinmother.co.uk

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