Profound and Moving - National Museum of Ireland’s new installation

National Museum of Ireland’s new installation

(A) Dressing Our Hidden Truths is a new installation at the National Museum of Ireland. Created by the artist Alison Lowry from Co. Down, the new installation is a response to Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes and Industrial Schools of Ireland's recent past.

According to press from the museum:

This exhibition is a landmark, artistic response to the shameful parts of our recent past that were hidden truths for many years, including Magdalene Laundries, Mother & Baby Homes and Industrial Schools. The installation also explores the ongoing hidden truths of rape culture, consent and domestic violence.

Alison Lowry

Artist Alison Lowry told Newstalk about what she hopes visitors will take away from her exhibit:

I hope that the show helps to foster an understanding of these topics. It might help to create a foundation that people can talk about these things. And then if we can do that, then we can actually move on with the reconciliation process. And you know, also hopefully make sure that these things don't happen again in our own society.

 

Profound and Moving

Dr. Audrey Whitty, Keeper of the Art and Industrial Division at the National Museum and curator of the new installation, feels that although the subject matter might not be something you associate with the museum, it was an important subject to tackle.

One thing we do is tell the history of Ireland. And a vast chunk of that history in the 20th century involved the Magdalene Laundry system. And what Alison has done is this very profound and moving tribute to those women.

Alison Lowry: (A) Dressing Our Hidden Truths

An artistic response to the legacy of mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries.

Opens to the public on Wed, 27th of March 2019 at NMI-CollinsBarrackshttps://t.co/aUBvBhNPT3…/Futur…/(A)dressing-our-Hidden-Truths pic.twitter.com/KPC9n6ZdTv

— National Museum of Ireland (@NMIreland) March 26, 2019

Connie Roberts is a poet and a resident of New York for the past 36 years. Connie and her 14 siblings were raised in Industrial schools in Ireland. Connie relayed her emotions on viewing the exhibit.

I shed a tear or two, you know not just of my story but that we're connected in history, you know. The Magdalene Laundries and the Mother and Baby Homes and the Industrial Schools, we're a part of history, we're a family you know, in essence.

The exhibition opens to the public on Wednesday, March 27^th

You can find more details on the installation here.