Linder Sterling’s Bower of Bliss

The Bower of Bliss exhibition by Linder Sterling was commissioned in 2018 by the Glasgow Women’s Library and Glasgow International Festival.

The outcome of this commission was a short film, artwork, a Bottle of Ginger drink and an artists’ talk. All of these were displayed at the exhibition which took place at the Glasgow Women’s Library as part of the Glasgow International Festival.

Linder's Flag, for Bower of Bliss 2018. The flag is a collage of red-lipped mouths and foliage
Linder’s flag for Bower of Bliss flying outside Glasgow Women’s Library

The main themes throughout this women-led project were empowerment, female agency and relationships. The inspiration behind this came from women’s history; with research Linder conducted taking place at the library and Chatsworth House, where the film was shot. She utilised the library’s archives and found inspiration from the historical artifacts that lay in it. These included radical feminist artifacts, lesbian texts, different artworks, and a multitude of historical sources associated with the persecution of women accused of being witches, chants and the alchemy of royal anointing. Alongside Linder’s artworks, sketches, items which inspired her throughout the process, and works by Louise Gray were also showcased, with Gray’s work had also been specially curated for the Bower of Bliss film.

Linder, The Darktown Cakewalk, 2010. Photo collage featuring a black and white pinup overlaid with pink-lipped mouths and a strawberry cheesecake.
Linder, The Darktown Cakewalk, 2010

Linder Sterling is a Manchester-born artist, who began to come to prominence in the late 1970’s punk era. She began using her signature photo-montage technique, which she has used throughout her career since, developed and applied it to many of her artworks. She is well known for doing album cover work for the Buzzcocks “Orgasm Addict” 1977, and being a collaborator of Morrissey, photographing him for the album “Very Best of Morrissey”. She was also awarded the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award in 2017. Bower of Bliss was one of three commissions she had in 2018.

Bower of Bliss was launched at the Glasgow Women’s Library as part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art on Thursday, April 19th and ran until Monday, May 7th, 2018.

Linder's Flag, for Bower of Bliss 2018.
Linder's Flag, for Bower of Bliss 2018.
A woman leans her head back as if taking in the sunlight on her face or stretching back mid motion. There is an old stone wall in the background and she is in a field.
A woman leans her head back as if taking in the sunlight on her face or stretching back mid motion. There is an old stone wall in the background and she is in a field.
Image of two women holding hands and leaning their heads against one another. Their eyes are closed and they are wearing costumes that look like a modern spin on Tudor fashions with puffy sleeves and lace.
Image of two women holding hands and leaning their heads against one another. Their eyes are closed and they are wearing costumes that look like a modern spin on Tudor fashions with puffy sleeves and lace.
Complex collage image showing a women in a bikini, what might be surrealist artwork, an owl, some cutlery with food, some flowers and a river.
Complex collage image showing a women in a bikini, what might be surrealist artwork, an owl, some cutlery with food, some flowers and a river.
Two faces beneath strewn roses and leaves; one has their eyes closed, the other has open eyes and is sticking out their tongue
Two faces beneath strewn roses and leaves; one has their eyes closed, the other has open eyes and is sticking out their tongue
2 Brown bottles with black lids, with Linder's design on the label. The design is of open mouths with pink lips, with greenery and leaves surrounding it.
2 Brown bottles with black lids, with Linder's design on the label. The design is of open mouths with pink lips, with greenery and leaves surrounding it.
Brown bottle with black lid, with Linder's design on the label. The design is of open mouths with pink lips, with greenery and leaves surrounding it.
Brown bottle with black lid, with Linder's design on the label. The design is of open mouths with pink lips, with greenery and leaves surrounding it.
Image showing someone holding an old magazine in front of their face perhaps closely inspecting the cover or hiding. The room they are in has soft lighting with green tones from the curtains shining from behind them.
Image showing someone holding an old magazine in front of their face perhaps closely inspecting the cover or hiding. The room they are in has soft lighting with green tones from the curtains shining from behind them.
Image of Linder, Love Imposes Impossible Tasks, Performance - a person in a black and white striped dress holds up a fan saying 'OPEN' while holding the back of their other hand to their forehead and swooning. 3 people in black and white geometric costumes are lined up in the background.
Image of Linder, Love Imposes Impossible Tasks, Performance - a person in a black and white striped dress holds up a fan saying 'OPEN' while holding the back of their other hand to their forehead and swooning. 3 people in black and white geometric costumes are lined up in the background.
Flag, Bower of Bliss, Linder, 2018
Film still from Linder’s Bower of Bliss
Film still from Bower of Bliss by Linder
Linder, ‘She Who Gives Birth to the Three Worlds’, 2017
Linder’s Bower of Bliss film screenshot
Bottle of Ginger – Linder, Bower of Bliss
Bottle of Ginger for Bower of Bliss
Film still from “Bower of Bliss” by Linder
Of Other Spaces: Book Launch
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Artist

Detail of Linder's flag for Bower of Bliss. The flag is a collage of red-lipped mouths and foliage.
Linder’s Flag

Linder Sterling – Linder Sterling is an internationally famous artist, most recognised for her photo montage technique and having worked with the likes of the Buzzcocks and Morrissey. She is known for her punk origins in the art world and also was part of the punk band called “Ludus”. There was also another Bower of Bliss installation for Art in the Underground, in London’s Southwark Station in later 2018.

Commissioners

Commisioned by Glasgow Women’s Library and Glasgow International 2018 with support from Outset Scotland and Clyde Gateway.

Glasgow International Festival – The Glasgow International Festival takes place every year, over 18 days in the springtime. It is a contemporary arts festival, celebrating the artists around the world and the art scene in Glasgow.

Glasgow International website: https://glasgowinternational.org/events/linder-2

Outset Scotland – Outset Contemporary Art Fund is a charity which gathers donations from partners, donations, supporters, and patron circles to help new art for any type, range or size of audience it can. It is based in 8 countries, including Scotland.

Outset Scotland website: https://outset.org.uk/

Clyde Gateway – Clyde Gateway is the largest regeneration programme in Scotland. It is in partnership with Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Enterprise, with backing from the Scottish Government directly and financially. They helped to provide the Glasgow Women’s Library with the very building it is based today.

Clyde Gateway website: http://www.clydegateway.com/ 

Collaborators

Kirstin Halliday – Played Bess of Hardwick in the Bower of Bliss film. They are a dancer, and previously studied at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance and at SMASH Berlin, doing two months of training in experimental physical performance.

Lauren Fitzpatrick – Played Mary Queen of Scots in the Bower of Bliss film. She is an actress and dancer, previously collaborating with Linder on a number of different projects, including “Hollywood Medieval” with Maxwell Sterling at IMMA in Dublin.

Louise Gray – She created the costumes for the Bower of Bliss film. She is a fashion designer with a background in fashion and textiles, and has collaborated previously with Marques’ Almeida at London Fashion Week, the Victoria and Albert museum and more.

Fatosh Olgacher – She was the cinematographer for the Bower of Bliss film. She previously studied MSci Mathematics at the University of Nottingham, and has combined her passions for film and math to create art.

Maxwell Sterling – He is a composer and musician who worked on the music for Bower of Bliss. In 2016, he released his debut album “Hollywood Medieval”.

Teresa Winter – She worked on the music for the Bower of Bliss film. She is an artist which worlds with ambient, avant-pop and psychedelic music paradigms. Her first vinyl record was released with label The Death of Rave, called “Untitled Death”.

Bottle of Ginger – Bottle of Ginger, a community drinks cooperation based in Bridgeton, East End of Glasgow helped to create a bespoke cordial for this exhibition, in a collaboration with the Library, with Linder designing the label on the bottle.

Click on the links below for more information on the Bower of Bliss 2018 events.

Connected Pages

Image of two women holding hands and leaning their heads against one another. Their eyes are closed and they are wearing costumes that look like a modern spin on Tudor fashions with puffy sleeves and lace.
Film still from Bower of Bliss by Linder. Cinematographer Fatosh Olgacher.

Linder's Artist's Talk

In discussion, Linder will speak about the germination of the new works created for Glasgow Women’s Library and the serendipitous, fascinating synergy between two sites and collections, GWL and Chatsworth.

Two faces beneath strewn roses and leaves; one has their eyes closed, the other has open eyes and is sticking out their tongue
Linder's Bower of Bliss film screenshot

Linder's Flag and Film

One of the most significant feminist artists of her generation, Linder has created interventions of uncanny glamour and enchantment in Glasgow’s East End with GWL for Glasgow International 2018.

A woman leans her head back as if taking in the sunlight on her face or stretching back mid motion. There is an old stone wall in the background and she is in a field.
Film Still from "Bower of Bliss" by Linder. Cinematographer Fatosh Olgacher.

Linder's Flag and Film Launch Event

Meet us at Glasgow Green at dawn to experience the ethereal glow as the sun rises over the flow of the Clyde. Your senses will be awash with sights, sounds, tastes and scents as we launch "Bower of Bliss" Linder’s Flag and Film.