In 2018, the UK marked 100 years since the first women gained the right to vote, a milestone in the history of women’s rights and a moment of reflection on the long struggle for gender equality.
This year, the #LightNightLeeds festival featured a poignant and thought-provoking installation by artist Karen Monid of The Projection Studio. Monid used this opportunity to delve into the lives of two remarkable women from Leeds, Suffragettes Leonora Cohen and Mary Gawthorpe, whose courage and determination helped shape the course of history.
Monid’s digital portrait, created using archive material and images gathered from collections at Leeds City Museum, the Abbey House Museum, and Leeds Libraries, offered an intimate look into the lives of these two very different suffragettes. Despite their differences, Leonora Cohen and Mary Gawthorpe were united by an unshakable belief in a common purpose: the fight for women’s suffrage. Through this work, Monid sought to bring their stories to life, allowing the public to connect with these historic figures on a deeply personal level.
Karen Monid spent months meticulously researching the lives of Leonora Cohen and Mary Gawthorpe, diving into archives and exploring the personal histories of these two women. Her goal was to present Suffrage history through their eyes, to showcase the period not just as a series of events, but as lived experiences. Monid emphasized the importance of understanding Cohen and Gawthorpe not only as activists but as individuals with unique stories, challenges, and strengths.
“Through this piece, we’ll see Suffrage history through the eyes and experiences of two women from Leeds,” Monid explained. “Through their lives and actions, we get to know what that period looked like, but we also get to know more about them as women, which was really important to me. I want people to connect with them.”
This connection is vital because it humanises the historical narrative, allowing modern audiences to relate to the Suffragettes not just as distant figures but as people who faced challenges, doubts, and fears—yet found within themselves extraordinary courage and resilience. Monid reflected on how both Leonora and Mary likely saw themselves as ordinary women who, through their involvement in the Suffrage movement, discovered strengths and talents they never realized they had. “I think we can all take something from that,” Monid noted. “The things that are sent to challenge us are very often what helps us grow.”
Part of Monid’s extensive research involved visiting Leeds City Museum, which holds a significant collection of materials related to Leonora Cohen’s life. Cohen, known for her militant activism, became an iconic figure in the Suffrage movement. In 1911, she famously threw a rock at the window of a government building, an act that led to her arrest and imprisonment. Two years later, in 1913, Cohen was again imprisoned, this time for hurling an iron bar through a showcase at the Tower of London. Her defiant acts of protest were driven by a fierce determination to secure voting rights for women, regardless of the personal cost.
In contrast to Cohen’s militant approach, Mary Gawthorpe was known for her powerful oratory and her role as a prominent public speaker, making her one of the most influential suffragettes of her time.. Gawthorpe was a regular speaker at major Suffragette events, including a rally in London’s Hyde Park in 1908, where she addressed a crowd of more than 200,000 people. Her ability to galvanize and inspire large audiences was instrumental in raising awareness and support for the Suffrage cause.
Through Monid’s digital installation at #LightNightLeeds, audiences were given the chance to step back in time and witness the Suffrage movement through the lives of these two extraordinary women. The piece not only commemorated the centenary of women’s suffrage but also served as a reminder of the power of ordinary individuals to effect extraordinary change. By bringing the stories of Leonora Cohen and Mary Gawthorpe to the forefront, Monid’s work ensured that their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
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