Plaque to the Future
Noor Inayat Khan
I came across this Guardian article by Anna Kessel the other day. She’s asking why there are so few blue plaques dedicated to women:
“So while the founder of Tesco, Jack Cohen, has a plaque, the important second world war intelligence officer Noor Inayat Khan, the pioneering dancer Isadora Duncan and the polymath Gertrude Bell have all been denied.”
Who we choose to remember and how we go about it is something I think about quite a lot. Arguments are often made on either side. A sudden levelling of the playing field is labelled as tokenism by some, while others say it’s readdressing a history that has predominantly celebrated white, straight men and that has been written by them as well.
I took images of these three women highlighted by Kessel: Noor Inayat Khan, Isadora Duncan and Gertrude Bell and covered their faces with round empty plaques.
What affect do blue plaques have I wonder? Even if you rarely look at them, they have some sort of a knock on effect. Names and details get noted for posterity, books are written, Wikipedia contributers take note. More generations are likely to be told and taught about their names and achievements. I guess what I’m saying is when we decide to forge a legacy for someone from the past, it’s not just a commemoration and note of a respect, it’s also a comment on who and what we, as a society, think is important to carry forward for the future. It has an impact on the future generations and the future of equality.
After reading Kessel’s article, I am also looking forward to getting a copy of Allison Vale’s book about noteworthy absentees: A Woman Lived Here and unveiling a few more of those names, faces, and stories.
Isadora Duncan
Gertrude Bell (above and below)
Jessica McDermott is an artist and educator. Subscribe to her newsletter here.