Lived Lives: From Tory Island to Swift’s Asylum.
Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim (Tues -Thurs 20, 21, 22 March, 2018)
Suicide is the leading cause of death of young adults in Ireland and the UK, cloaked in stigma and shame. The durational arts-science collaborative model, Lived Lives addresses the stigma of suicide in a safe space through restoring identity of loved ones lost to suicide and acknowledging the loss to families in a nonjudgmental and compassionate setting. Lived Lives is a travelling exhibition that includes the border communities of Donegal, Leitrim and Tory Island, as well as the community of St Patrick’s University Hospital Dublin, Ireland’s oldest psychiatric institution, established following a donation from Jonathan Swift (1746). The exhibition is made possible with the informed permission of the Lived LivesFamilies.
Lived Lives is an artist – scientist mediated exhibition about suicide, installed within a local context, where interested groups and members of the public are guided through the work by the Lived Lives team. Each “journey and conversation” through the gallery lasts approx. 90 mins, and begins with a meet and greet in Room 1 followed by a reflection on suicide in the Northwest over the past decade, within the artwork of 21 grams. This is followed by a tour of the Archive Roomsand the Lost Portrait Gallery and finally discussion, closing comments and feedback forms and refreshments.
Participants are informed of the mediated journey and conversation in advance, that it is being documented, and this footage may be used to inform future projects. Participants may withdraw or leave at any point and bereavement support is also be made available.
For more information see www.livedlives.com
Supported by a Science & Society People Award from The Wellcome Trust
