A helping hand
Have you ever come across a single mitten dropped on the pavement, or partially buried beneath wet leaves? We often see these rescued from the elements, secured to a nearby bench or railing, places where they can readily be found, should someone return for them. There is one such article outside the Museum’s entrance: a tiny pink glove, quietly perched upon iron railings near Thomas Coram’s statue.
The forgotten half of the pair, waiting to be made whole, Baby Things, Mitten recalls both the Foundlings left behind, as well as the mothers brave enough to part with them. Many 18th-century mothers left a token with their child while keeping hold of its twin. One day, they hoped, the two might be reunited. The mothers of the Foundlings placed their entire faith in the Foundling Hospital, trusting that the institution would provide their young one with a better life.
Emin’s bronze mitten invites us to consider how we, too, explicitly trust others during our times of need. If something precious is lost, we often rely on the kindness of strangers to provide a happier ending to our bleak predicament. We retrace our steps, looking for our missing mitten, hoping – maybe even expecting – to find it somewhere safe along a railing. Like the tokens in the Museum’s Collection, Baby Things, Mitten is a testament to communal altruism, and the heart-breaking endurance of hope.
About the artist
Born in South London, Tracey Emin, DBE is celebrated for her raw, unapologetic, and intensely autobiographical works. A defining figure within the Young British Artists collective during the 1990s, Emin’s paintings, sculptures and photography have brought her decades of international acclaim, notoriety, and controversy. Her provocative art often concerns her own personal ambivalence towards personhood, womanhood, and even motherhood, unflinchingly exposing all the joy and trauma defining her life. In 2007, Emin was named a Royal Academician of the Royal Academy. Today, she remains one of the most daring, influential, and established artists of her generation.
