2025 - 12
Sarah Maple features loud and with poignance in her work. She often takes centre stage particularly in her performances claiming space, encouraging us to look at what it is to be an artist within the confines of our own identity. Her work is bold, brave, mischievous and occasionally controversial artworks that challenge notions of identity, religion and the status quo. Much of Maple's inspiration originates from her mixed religious and cultural upbringing.
I love her wide approach, the work ranges from painting, drawing, film and performances. I am interested in how she has included her new baby in recent work. Her visual diary of 650 photos 'Labour of Love', representing the number of feeds in 3 months. As she points out: "The aim is to highlight the sheer volume of work that is expected of mothers and to challenge people to rethink the value of the time spent. Raising a child is seen as a female task, not a real job. Thus unpaid and undervalued. Addressing this and rectifying the situation is the unfinished work of feminism.”
We had a stimulating conversation about her practice, and how it has and hasn’t changed since the birth of her baby and how she will remain true to her unexpected, insightful view off the world.
Maple’s artwork, film and performances have been exhibited internationally at galleries and institutions including Tate Britain, Golden Thread Gallery and Tallin Art Hall. Her recent commissions include The Baltic, New Art Exchange and Sky Arts.