Audrey Amiss: "Drawings from a Locked Ward ('The Snakepit')"

Exhibition poster, price lists, and A4 painted signs (eg, "Justice for Lunatics"; "If it Ain't Broke Don't Fix It"; "Stop Psychiatric Oppression").

2002

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Exhibition of drawings by Audrey Amiss, held 22 July – 2 Aug 2002, at Gallery Forty-Seven, London: “Drawings from a Locked Ward (‘The Snakepit’).

In a letter to John and Dorothy in July 2002, Audrey explains the title of this exhibition: "I have referred to "The Snakepit" in the title of the exhibition. That, if you remember, is an old Hollywood film about a woman who gets trapped in a madhouse and can't get out because no one will believe a word she says."

In a letter to her sister Dorothy, Audrey writes in Jan 1989: "The next exhibition in February is even bigger and may have quite an impact. I am calling it 'Fireworks' and it is a protest exhibition. It will include graffiti (which are framed written statements) such as "Psychiatrists are mad", "Doctors are Quacks", etc, etc. We'll see if it will provoke a reaction or whether I'll be 'ignored' as usual." This later exhibition "Drawings from a Locked Ward (The Snakepit)" also contains painted signs with slogans of a similar nature.

These personal and family belongings were grouped together in Audrey's living room, and found together either on her living room table or in a box on the floor.