This project aims to open a dialogue for my generation on the societal pressures our mothers and grandmothers faced due to Catholicism in Ireland. Also, to acknowledge the ‘Catholic Guilt’ that has bled down to younger generations. My dissertation, entitled ‘Three Female Figures in Catholic Sacred Art’, greatly inspired the project. It focused on the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and Eve. I looked at symbolism surrounding women in Catholic sacred art. I aimed to allow women of my generation to physically and symbolically wear these pressures which Catholic women faced, living in a much more Catholic Ireland. I have used a Bishop’s mitre as a canvas for my agenda to enforce the idea of Catholicism in the project. I focused on symbols such as the lily, almond and mandorla and practiced techniques that are used in ecclesiastical dress and Catholic sacred art.
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- Gender differences in Catholic ecclesiastical dress
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- Inspiration
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- Sampling with lily pollen and petals
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- Sample development - almonds wrapped in gold leaf, couched down with red embroidery thread
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- Lily and almond on my Grandmother
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- Mitre design 1 - lily and almond
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- Mitre design 2 - mandorla, or nué technique
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- Mitre design 3 - lily pollen dying and almond
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- Mitre design 4 - lily petals
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- Mitre design 5 - almond and mandorla