DEEDS, NOT WORDS. Denise Laura Baker.

Gallery 74. 27 Jan 24- 13 Apr 24

“Acts of civil disobedience rarely go unpunished and those of us that commit these acts of love, in order to protect life, do not do so without consequences. Nevertheless, we believe we know how history will judge us.” Gail Bradbrook, Extinction Rebellion.

Deeds, Not Words is an exhibition of photography celebrating women in activism across a multitude of movements and protests. Taking its name from the recognisable group motto of the Women’s Social and Political Union at the start of the suffragette movement, the ongoing body of work by Denise Laura Baker highlights women who are taking to the helm in a bid to enact change; capturing the way individuals stand together and work together for movements including Extinction Rebellion, Black Lives Matter, Animal Rebellion, Million Women Rise, Stop HS2, Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil, plus others from particular actions such as Myanmar, Iranian, Ukrainian and Free Palestine crises.

Denise Laura Baker is a London based, socially engaged photo journalist and documentary photographer. As a life-long campaigner and activist with a long history of attending protests and marches, her work focuses on environmental and social issues, climate change, activism, and community. Denise continually collects and tells stories though her photography, pairing images with recorded or written dialogue in order to give voice to those with whom she collaborates. Denise exhibits her work widely and is frequently published in the mainstream press. In 2021 and 2022 she won the Paris Photo Prize, PX3 State of the World.

“In these pictures my heart lies with the women acting, I state my allegiance, but at the same time I want to tell a rounded story and be a truthful witness.”

Curator: Michelle Keeling