Withholding BloodWithholding Blood
2017 - 2018 Withholding Blood began its life as a make, read & talk research residency in the Mermaid Arts Centre in 2017, Working with a group of older women exploring the challenges of ageing, power and gender it went on to become part of DLR Lexicon arts education programme in 2018. Like other markers of social difference, age is given meaning by a culture. Yet unlike gender and race, the subjects of age and ageing have received little sustained attention. For women this lack of attention becomes a double bind as they experience a lack of representation within cultural production and a purely medical focus on a physical experience that is particular to their sex. Working with members of the Women’s Equality Network in Bray in a consciousness-raising group sharing narrative around the experience of menopause and age and responding to research on the historical and cultural experiences of menopause. Together we created domestic sculptural works and shared stories of our own experiences.With the women of Dun Laoghaire we continued that conversation looking at the 20th Century history of Women's fight for equality,and how to look at ourselves outside of given stereotypes. Supported by Mermaid Arts Centre & DLR County Council |