Sympathetic Soup, 2021
This ongoing body of work explores plants associated with healing in Irish history, drawing on the National Folklore Collection and the writings of Lady Wilde. The installation utilises reclaimed materials from the All Hallows' Campus in Dublin City University as it undergoes renovations. The work and research has has been funded by The Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award 2021 and Dublin City University Artist in Residence Programme 2020 - 21.
All images Copyright Kyran O'Brien and Dublin City University.
Savage Cabbage
27.5 pink glazed ceramic cabbage leaves,
2 x Reclaimed wooden beam from Woodlock Hall restorations - on loan
Iron legs, 3.6 metres x 25cm x 90cm
Six of the seven herbs that nothing natural or supernatural could injure
Yarrow - St Johns wort - Speedwell - Eyebright - Mallow - Self Heal
Cut on the day of the full moon, near noon, mostly with a black handled knife.
Reclaimed glass from All Hallows Restaurant restorations.
Reclaimed beam from Woodlock Hall restorations
20cm x 60cm x 22cm
1.
27.5 days - Average length of my 2021 menstrual cycle
Giclée print on platinum cotton with collage, 24 x 36 inches.
Found cuckoo eggs, Yarrow, Vervain seeds, Nipplewort, St John's-wort,
Meadowsweet, Cabbage leaf for headache, onion leaf, bog cotton, Ox Eye Daisy, Ivy leaf, Selfheal, Dandelion seeds, yarrow seeds, Yarrow leaves, Foxgloves, Butterfly wing.
2.
Searching in vain for Vervain
Imported vervain seeds, planted into two ceramic cabbage leaves.
Joanna Hopkins, Artist
Image credit Kyran O'Brien