The general theme progressing through the textiles and ceramics component of the exhibition is based on our relationship with the sea. Ideas were nurtured by looking closely at Ernst Haeckel’s weird and wonderful world of creatures and his rendering of natural geometric structures. Working with Visual Thinking Strategies, the UCC Artists and The Sea series of lectures delivered by Dr James Cronin, the conversation delved into the world of Environmental Art and Climate Change.
The integration of ceramics and textiles was cultivated through a collective group project and is the consummation of a year’s parlance with artistic discourse.
This cell displays work by the Ceramic, Textile and Pyrography class in Cork prison. Each piece has been worked on by a number of students to promote a sense of community and collaboration through group work.
‘Artists and the Sea’
The creative expressions you experience in this exhibition are the fruits of learning through dialogue with students in Cork prison who participated in a short course, facilitated by University College Cork, entitled: “Artists and the Sea”. This six-week course explored the different ways in which artists chose to make use of the sea in their works.
The sea is used to evoke a full spectrum of human emotions: peace, optimism, adventure, fear and grief. Some depictions are hyper-real, while others simply suggest the flick of a brushstroke.
Artists often illustrate humanity’s use of the sea and what that represents; from the labours of fishing communities through to the vessels upon which journeys began, conflicts took place and lands were discovered or abandoned.
There is one theme, though, that appears universal; the sea’s vast and unknown nature means it will never be fully tamed or understood.
Dr James Cronin | Course facilitator
University College Cork
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‘Sceal Scaol’
As you enter the cell you are drawn to an embroidered life jacket decorated with text, drawings and textures. Inspired by a workshop facilitated by Max Porter as part of Sounds From A Safe Harbour and delivered to the women of the Dillons Cross Project, it unravels fragments from their life stories.
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‘The Home Project’
Advancing with narrative, the house embellished with pyrographic script exposes the subject of homelessness, displacement and destruction of the home. Inspired by various nationalities in the prison it brings together the universal meaning of home.
