My project draws inspiration from the Greek myth of Ceres and Persephone. Eavan Boland uses this poem as a metaphor for herself and her daughter coming to terms with her daughter becoming a woman. It references marriage, womanhood and motherhood, while holding on to nostalgic notions. I’m reinterpreting such themes by looking at womanhood through family heirloom clothing.

As a Joint Education student, I devised art classes which enabled conversation and storytelling. My teaching context has influenced my final degree project of daughter/ mother and the shifting roles and relationships between daughters and mothers.

The pieces reference my family heirlooms made in Irish Crochet Lace and Aran knitting. These processes were taught and learnt over generations, from the mother to daughter in domestic contexts. The production of these textile articles made for the female trousseau – as heirlooms for domestic use and wear – reinforce this cyclical mother daughter relationship. “The Dress” as object or ‘To Dress’ as a verb, seems to galvanise the milestone moment of "the wedding" that is significant for both daughter and mother like the wedding dress.

• 3D Object
• Wearable
• Multi-media
• 2D Image