FRÉAMHACHA / KORIN’JA (ROOTS) | 2023
Commissioned by Greywood Arts for their May Sunday Festival and Art Trail, Fréamhacha/Korin’ja (Roots) was a co creative process with a group of local women in East Cork and Ukrainian refugees living in Redbarn, Youghal. This project points to identity, belonging, placemaking and establishing connections. Inspired by The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben, which proclaims that trees are sentient and communal, intelligent, resourceful and generous, the group explored native and non-native trees in the local and very beautiful Glenbower Woods. Combining the yellow colour of May flowers alongside red to represent the Bealtaine bonfires, the group used the labour intensive process of layers of wax-resist dyeing on cotton, to make these banners. Emblematic of mycorrhiza, the symbiotic underground network and support system that exists between plants and fungi, we have employed the sgraffito and crackle techniques in batik as an allegory for gestures of support among humanity in times of crisis. Each participant also created their own individual Batik piece, inspired by native plants and trees in Ireland and Ukraine.
https://videopress.com/v/mcvPbN1l
Supported by: Cork County Council | The Arts Council of Ireland | Youghal Credit Union
Photographs courtesy of Greywood Arts
