THE National Museum of Ireland in Dublin is opening a major new installation by acclaimed Co Antrim glass artist Alison Lowry this month.
Opening on March 27 and running until May 2020 at the Museum of Decorative Arts and History at Collins Barracks, (A) Dressing Our Hidden Truths is described as Lowry's "ground-breaking, artistic response to Ireland's Magdalene laundries, mother and baby homes and industrial schools," which also explores "the ongoing hidden truths of rape culture, consent and domestic violence".
The show combines art and artefacts, including aprons inspired by the Magdalene laundries, photographs of the incarcerated or women participating in a Corpus Christi procession, the apology from the state read by then taoiseach Enda Kenny and voice and video installations.
It is divided into four areas; an installation of suspended sand-cast pâte de verre (glass paste) christening robes, sculptural works responding to the theme of the Magdalene laundries, a video piece made with performance artist Jayne Cherry and a glass and leather suit of armour created with designer Úna Burke.
Home Babies is a comment on the Tuam Mother and Baby Home consisting of nine pâte de verre Christening Robes and a monologue of the 796 children buried in an unused septic tank, while Lowry's collaboration with Úna Burke on A New Skin explores sexual violence, rape culture and consent.
:: See Museum.ie for further information
