THE REFERENDUM TO repeal the Eighth Amendment has seen many people contributing to the conversation, through a variety of mediums.
Visual art has vastly impact the movement, the most notable example being Maser’s Repeal The 8th mural, commissioned by The Hunreal Issues, at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin.
DailyEdge.ie spoke to various visual artists who have made works inspired by the campaign about why they felt it was important to contribute.
Ciara Kenny
Most of the stuff I’ve done is to try to get information about Repeal across in a quick, visual and shareable way, or to try to keep conversations about Repeal going and hopefully keep us all motivated.
They’re not so much art as much as tools that I hope are some bit useful in their own small way to get people discussing and thinking about Repeal. “
Ciara shares most of her work on Twitter – you can follow her here.
Aisling Duffy
We should all have the right to make our own decisions for our own bodies. I want to let you know I’m there with you and hope we get this thing passed! Your body, your choice.
I love you Ireland – please make progress and let’s take a step forward not back!”
You can see more of Aisling’s work here.
Saoirse Carey
No woman should have to travel for the health care they deserve. I feel compelled as an artist to create art about things I care about, as I feel it’s a great opportunity to allow people to see things through your eyes.
I want people to emphasis and realize the anxiety and misery traveling for termination puts on people. It’s common when people who travel are interviewed, they say they feel as though everyone in the airport knew what they were going to do. I wanted this shame to seep off this painting. This shame needs to end.”
You can view more of Saoirse’s artwork here.
Jacob Stack
Well, I’m not the best with words … And wanted to show support in some way. I found the marches, Strike For Repeal, and the whole movement, incredibly powerful.
Getting advised by a friend to get in contact with the good folk at Everyday Stories, a storytelling & illustration project highlighting the impact of the 8th Amendment through personal testimonies, I felt like contributing in a small way to something so important.”
You can see more of Jacob’s work here.
Grey + Ginger / Saibh Egan / Paper Mache Mind
The ‘Defiance’ print sweatshirt and t-shirt raised funds for Galway Pro-Choice and the pro-choice campaign, allowing the group to hold many events to inform the public on the dangers of the 8th and why we should all be #Together4Yes.”
Stacey-Grant Canham (Black & Beech)
Black & Beech is a design led lifestyle brand founded by Stacey Grant-Canham, a fashion lecturer, when she became a mother in 2016.
The thread that flows is one of empowerment and intersectional feminism. We support equality and donate to Abortion Support Network through our Resistance range. In 2018 we have been supporting the referendum on the 8th amendment in our home, Ireland, through a parent-focused product range that has donated about a thousand euro to The Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment.
When Together for Yes was formed we launched our YES necklace which has been shared and worn by Marianne Keyes, Roisin Ingle, Amy Huberman, Ashling Bea and many many others. We’ve raised Four thousand euros from the sale of these shared across Together for Yes, Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland, and In Her Shoes Women of the 8th.”
You can see more of Stacey’s work here.
Naoise Dolan
The amazing Aifric Ní Chríodain asked me to contribute to the Someone You Love exhibition, so I sent on two comics about the 8th. I was abroad and felt disconnected from repeal activism, so I was really happy when the opportunity came up to do something.
Unlike the pro-life lobby in the US, I and a lot of the other people actually affected by the 8th amendment don’t have endless money to throw at this referendum, so I think it’s great that people have found ways to donate time and skills instead.
Beyond that, I think artwork is a way of emphasising how high the stakes are for Irish people with wombs. American ‘pro-lifers’ can enter credit card details online (instead of saving far more lives per dollar by buying malaria nets, donating to homeless charities, or indeed supporting care for babies after they’re born), but we’re the ones who have to live with the consequences of their meddling. Expressing that experience through artwork is cathartic, it’s personal, and it drives the point home.”
You can purchase a print of Naoise’s piece here.
Rae / Uterus Prime
Uterus Prime is a play on the Transforming action hero Optimus Prime. I created Uterus Prime to capture the enduring energy and heroism of Irish women, and the absurdity of the stigma and controversy tied to women’s reproductive organs.
Recalling Optimus’ mantra, “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings”, Uterus exclaims in response: “Bodily Autonomy is the right of all sentient beings!” Originally designed as banner for the 2016 March for Choice, this imaged placed onto a garment sits proudly on the wearers’ chest, like the breast plate of a warriors armor, sending them proudly forward to fight for their cause.
Uterus Prime is a champion for feminism and gender equality.”
