Exhibition 'Lives Less Ordinary' Reconsiders Working-Class Representation in British Art

The exhibition 'Lives Less Ordinary: Working Class Britain Re-Seen' at London's Two Temple Place challenges stereotypical depictions of working-class life in British art and media. Curated by Samantha Manton, it features over 50 British artists from the 1950s to the present, including works by Bert Hardy, Jack Smith, Jasleen Kaur, Kelly O'Brien, Beryl Cook, and Jo Spence. Hardy's 1948 photograph 'Children of the Gorbals (Gorbal Boys)', taken for Picture Post, was rejected for showing smiling subjects in poverty. The show emphasizes joy and diversity, countering narratives focused solely on crisis. A 2024 Sutton Trust report notes middle-class backgrounds dominate creative industries, while Turner Prize winner Jasleen Kaur highlights barriers for working-class artists. Martin Parr's absence is noted; his documentary 'I Am Martin Parr' (2024) by Lee Shulman addresses critiques of his patronizing portrayals. Critics like Jonathan Jones question class authenticity, and the exhibition includes playful assemblages, installations on undervalued labor, and paintings celebrating leisure. It runs until an unspecified date, with context on political shifts from Margaret Thatcher to John Major and New Labour.