PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES by Philippa James
100 Women of Oxford grew from a passion to connect with other women in my community. I was intrigued by their stories, and why they too were living in this city of dreaming spires.
This project has been the most humbling, insightful, educational school-of-life experience. I sat with each woman, in her home, and listened to experiences of love and loss, politics, motherhood, climate change, dreams, disability, murder, sexuality, mental health, fear, imposter syndrome, social justice, family conflict, abuse, feminism, war, joy, death, social inclusion and many more stories of humanity.
Everyday we pass people in the streets yet know so little about them. We are all so uniquely diverse, yet we all long for the same thing: connection. Real connection takes vulnerability, and vulnerability takes real courage. And so, I’d like to thank each woman I met for being honest and open, for deeply connecting, for taking a risk and saying yes, and letting me, a stranger into their home. This body of work has been a real collaboration.
The launch of this exhibition was at Tap Social on International Women's Day 2020. Two weeks later the UK went on lockdown due to COVID-19. I have now created an on-line version of this exhibition.
In this exhibition you will have the opportunity to meet all one hundred brave, courageous, inspirational women, who are a part of Oxford’s community, and read a small slice of our conversation.
PRESS PHOTOS BY –
RACHEL MOVITZ AND KEVIN POTTERS
TAP SOCIAL website