At a glance
A fragile assembly of sound, text, and 16mm film creates an unstable archive exploring feminist legacy and the weight of shared grief.
Meet the artist
Why go
The installation bridges the gap between private emotion and public struggle, offering a nuanced look at how personal relationships fuel larger political movements.
You'll see
Archival film · Poetry and song · New 16mm footage · Printed publication
Pace of visit
The experience centers on a nearly hour-long film, encouraging a slow, seated engagement with the material.
Don't miss
The new 16mm footage, which provides a contemporary visual counterpoint to the gathered archival materials.
Artlovers Tip
Plan to arrive a few minutes before the hour to catch the start of the 54-minute film screening.
Inside the exhibition
There Are No Honest Poems About Dead Women presents a solo installation by Jemma Desai at Somerset House in London, United Kingdom. The work functions as a living archive, utilizing fragmented voices and moving images to examine feminist inheritance and the complexities of collective mourning.
The presentation centers on a 54-minute film that blends new 16mm cinematography with historical archival footage. Visitors encounter a multi-sensory environment where poetry, song, and text intersect to create a non-linear narrative about political commitment and personal loss.
Desai moves away from traditional documentary formats to embrace a more experimental, independent-minded approach. By layering personal reflections with wider activist histories, the commission offers a space to consider how grief can become a catalyst for coalition rather than just an end point.
Worth travelling for?
A rewarding, intellectually dense visit for those interested in experimental film, feminist archives, and the intersection of art and activism.
Experience as an Artlover
The main film runs on a scheduled cycle, so checking the daily screening times is advisable to see the work from the start.
There Are No Honest Poems About Dead Women
Admission
Artlovers relevance
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