SOVEREIGNTY #1
Published: 16th January 2021
A photo essay about the creation of the Sovereignty project by conceptual artist Áine O’ Brien, photographer Myriam Riand, and creative director Melanie Lynch. This project is a collaboration with HerStory and Safe Ireland’s #WomanAndChild campaign, empowering women who are experiencing domestic violence and coercive control. The art of Ériu, Brigid and Sheela na Gig was illuminated on landmark buildings including ChristChurch Cathedral and the GPO on #NollaignamBan 2021.
“Ireland is named after the sovereign goddess Ériu, however it’s surprising how many Irish people are unaware of this fact. When I started HerStory back in 2016 I wanted to reimagine Ériu for modern Ireland, as a young girl with a warrior spirit finding her voice, she awakens ancient goddesses and calls them out of the shadows and into the light. In 2020 it was wonderful to team up with conceptual artist Áine O’Brien and photographer Myriam Riand to bring this vision to life. Together we agreed that local West of Ireland women would embody the goddesses - no celebrities or big names. This photo essay is the story of this inspired production.” - Melanie Lynch, Creative Director
The Future / Ériu
Ériu arises again, anew. Behold Eriu, anew as a child on the verge of womanhood. We invite you to invest in the future of Ireland. The goddess beginning. She is a warrior and a leader. She steps forth to own her own truth and embrace her fertility.
We see her moon blood as her power. We will celebrate her for being beautiful and full of herself. Be full of ourselves. Unashamedly free fertile women together. Shed the old. Rise anew.
We are reminded of the story of little red riding hood where mother, maiden and crone are present. The red hood symbolising the monthly blood, the whole story showing the transition to becoming prey to the wolf once fertile. But our Ériu will not be eaten, she will outsmart the predator!
Model - Aleisha Ryan-Ambele
Áine had worked with Aleisha on a film project in the summer 2019 and had remembered her distinctly. She was such a beautiful girl full of joys of childhood and so we set out to find her for this project. She was excited and willing to get involved.
Aleisha is only ten year old and so with regards to being a mixed race Irish girl, Áine spoke to her mother Marie and to another mixed race adult friend. It was very difficult to hear the identity crisis that they have to go through. Not white enough to be Irish and not black enough to be black. It was so important to us that we give her the identity of the rising anew , the Goddess of Ireland. To be omnipresent. To be Irish.
On the day of the shoot she arrived and we decided on her outfits and made up her facepaint. We then proceed to the location. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and we were able to do our job with leisure. She was amazing with direction, and although shy when her mother was around, she opened up once we were alone. She surpassed all our expectations and really embraced the opportunity.
Process:
For this image we wanted to present the future of Ireland in the image of a young warrior girl wearing a mixture of modern sports-wear as a base, layered with traditional clothing. She is holding a bodhran as a shield and blood like warrior face paint. The chosen location of the forest has also significance as it represents both the deep roots of the past and the future
There are a few references to menstruations in this piece. The red cape, the bodhán that looks like a full moon and her face paint. We want to remove the shame of blood and menstruation. To own it. A celebration of fertility. To remove the cloak of shame regarding the menstrual blood.
We walked to the woods with Aleisha and guided her through various movements to encourage her to embody the character of Eriu. Shy at first, she found her feet really quick and powerfully impersonated her role.
It was amazing to see her come into her full power. She moved away from the shy child and we got a glimpse of her female warrior self.
