A POWERFUL exhibition by a Donegal artist which addresses stigma about suicide and depression opens at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny this Friday, October 5.
The Lived Lost Lives exhibition features stories and items collected through the Lived Lives art and research project.
Initiated in 2006 by artist and researcher Dr. Seamus McGuinness, original from Fahan, and psychiatrist and clinical researcher Professor Kevin M. Malone, University College Dublin, author of the recently published Suicide In Ireland Report, 104 families from 23 Irish counties.
The families responded to invitations via local newspaper advertisements to take part in the Suicide in Ireland Survey/Lived Lives Project.
Following informed conversational interviews, belongings and stories associated with the suicide-deceased were donated by over 46 of the families to the artist.
From these donations of objects, images, writing and stories, McGuinness made a series of artworks-in-progress, which were initially presented back to the families for private feedback and their approval to display these works in the public domain.
The Lived Lost Lives exhibition in Letterkenny will comprise of a number of Lived Lives Archive Rooms containing objects and images associated with the suicide-deceased and film documentation on other archive rooms.
It will also feature the McGuinness installations 21g and the Lost Portrait Gallery. A number of short research films documenting the human engagement and process of the project are also included.
Dr Seamus McGuinness has been living in Clare for 25 years now. He is a full-time artist and also lectures in textiles at GMIT in Galway.
Lived Lost Lives opens at the Regional Cultural Centre this Friday, October 5 at 7pm. Public viewing sessions take place on Saturday, October 6, from 11am to 1pm and Tuesday, October 9 from 7pm – 8.30pm. No booking required.