Horrific hankies ­ a moving art/musical tribute to those killed in Ireland's sectarian violence

2-September-2002

Two doctoral students from the University of Wollongong with Irish heritage will pay a tribute to the thousands who have lost their lives over the past 30 years of sectarian violence in Ireland in a moving art and music peace installation known as "Horrific Hankies ­ the Irish Linen Memorial".

The travelling Irish memorial comes to Wollongong tomorrow (1 November) before going on tour around Australia and overseas. The memorial takes the form of an installation of textiles/music and dance. It is called the Irish Linen Memorial and has been created by Creative Arts doctoral student Lycia Trouton who is a Canadian/Irishwoman visual artist and sculptor.

She has printed the names of the 3,658 Irish killed between 1966-2000 on to linen handkerchiefs, as linen is emblematic of the North of Ireland due to the history of this industry there.

In addition there is music-soundscape by fellow Creative Arts doctoral student, Tom Fitzgerald, an accomplished composer who empowers the experience of Lycia's visual art by providing tones that are prayerful and sacred in an act of remembrance.

Creative Arts graduate, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, OAM, of the Mirramu Dance Company, will join the two current students by presenting a collaboratively choreographed movement performance. The art show will be filmed and photographed so that it can travel around Australia and overseas. A book collection of photographs of the memorial in both Protestant and Catholic churches, and an audio CD/DVD is also being planned.

The Head of the Centre for Australian Canadian Studies, Associate Professor Gerry Turcotte, will present the opening address. Organisers say the exhibition is appropriately being held on All Saints Day (1 November) and closing on Remembrance Day (11 November) to commemorate the dead. Lycia described the project as apolitical with the mobile memorial aimed at inspiring ecumenical forgiveness and healing.

There will be a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony to signify the Aboriginal empathy for the Irish who also lost their language and culture to British Imperialism. Aboriginal Elder, Auntie Mary Davis, will be among those participating. The installation also includes a thumb print wall that has thumb prints from people of all cultures ­ a touch symbolising recognition, sympathy and wishes for resolution of conflict.

The Canada Council and the University of Wollongong's Centre for Research in Image, Performance and Text (CRIPT), has provided sponsorship for the project. Those attending the exhibition are being asked to make a small voluntary donation which will go towards the Belfast Youth Orchestra in memory of a young friend of one of the artist's families who was killed by a bomb blast in 1972.

Tom Fitzgerald credits the beginnings of his lifelong successful career in music to the support he gained as a teenager in the MelbourneYouth Orchestra and he wishes the young people of Belfast to have the same chances he did as a young artist.

Media please note: The official opening time is 6pm on Friday 1 November in the Cloisters Gallery, Creative Arts Building, University of Wollongong. However, a special media exhibition preview will be held at 11am at the same venue tomorrow (Friday 1 November) including the presence of Aboriginal performers. For further information contact Tom Fitzgerald on 0411 504575.