Bones in the Attic

10 Aug-30 Oct 2022

Overview

Sarah Jayne Booth, Myrid Carten, Dorothy Cross, Amanda Doran, Rita Duffy, Jesse Jones, Alice Maher, Eleanor McCaughey, Na Cailleacha, Kathy Prendergast, Ruby Wallis

Opening this summer the Hugh Lane Gallery presents Bones in the Attic, a cross generational group exhibition exploring being female in Ireland today. The exhibition will explore ongoing issues within our society such as domestic abuse, beauty standards, women’s bodies, gender roles and women’s safety and will provide a backdrop for audience discussions in a safe environment. The cultural undercurrent of the exhibition will focus on Irish mythology and the strong female characters of our Celtic heritage, celebrating women, our roots and the future of feminism in Ireland for all.

On display will be works of key Irish female artists in the Hugh Lane Gallery collection who continue to be at the forefront of women’s rights in Ireland since 1980s - Rita Duffy, Dorothy Cross, Kathy Prendergast and Alice Maher, with our most recent acquisition from Jesse Jones. These will be exhibited alongside a selection of current work from Irish artists – Myrid Carten, Eleanor McCaughey, Amanda Doran, Sarah Jayne Booth, Ruby Wallis and collective Na Cailleacha. Displaying these works together underlines the repetition of historical themes that challenge anew each generation of artists.

A fully illustrated publication will be produced and designed by Dublin based designer Oonagh Young and will feature texts from Tessa Giblin, Director Talbot Rice Gallery, Dr Mary Condren, Centre for Gender and Women's Studies in TCD and poet Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin expanding on the themes of the exhibition. Bones in the Attic will be supported by an associated education programme throughout the duration of the exhibition.