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Norwich art initiative hopes to empower women with illnesses

Mortal and Strong Two women sitting on a sofa. Ms Middleton-Hughes is sitting on the left and wearing a stripy dress and Ms Murray is wearing a spotty dressMortal and Strong
Laura Middleton-Hughes and Liz Murray are looking for women to take part in an exhibition

A new art initiative aimed at highlighting health inequalities will feature 100 women who have faced early life challenges, such as cancer.

Mortal and Strong was founded in January by Dr Liz Murray from Norwich.

She has now started to create an art exhibition to share stories of women living with illnesses.

The art project will be focused on women's health because when Dr Murray had her own issues, she found "hope" in support groups.

It will feature stories of women with incurable breast cancer, lupus, endometriosis, baby loss, postnatal depression, fertility, cancer alongside other health challenges.

The founder is also an artist and said she wanted to put together the art exhibition of the 100 women from across the country for International Women's Day in 2025.

The venue is yet to be confirmed.

The artwork is set to be created in many forms such as paintings, photography and documentaries and will be made by an array of acclaimed and budding artists.

As part of the project, Dr Murray contacted the cancer-campaigner, Laura Middleton-Hughes.

Mrs Middleton-Hughes said: "I was approached by Liz last year about this amazing art project she wanted to do and it is to combine the voices of those living with illnesses - especially women."

The women started a podcast on International Women's Day this year and Mrs Middleton-Hughes said the team has already been contacted by more than 100 women who were hoping to take part in the exhibition.

'Hope'

Sammy Weston Black and white image of a woman with her hands on the side of her head. The only form of colour in the picture is the gold sequins on her forehead.Sammy Weston
The photography Scars of Gold was inspired by Kintsugi, which is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending areas of breakage with dusted or mixed powdered gold, silver or platinum

Dr Murray said: "I have been a doctor for over 10 years predominately in A&E, so I've seen first-hand how health inequalities do exist and I then began having health issues myself.

"I had lupus, recurrent miscarriages and endometriosis and through those I realised more needed to be done to empower people, I felt really isolated and alone.

"It was only through support groups and hearing the stories from other women who had already gone through that journey that I began to have hope."

She continued: "I wanted to do something on a big scale using lots of different approaches, art, voices, documentary to put a spotlight on young women facing their mortality.

"But not just focusing on the sad side of it, but showing there is strength and hope and resilience to be found."

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