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The Lost Children

Artist Name(s) Marie Brett
Artwork title The Lost Children
Context/Background St Finbarr's Hospital laundry and Ireland's social history informed the artwork The Lost Children which was created by Marie Brett during a visual arts in health project called Memory Dress. Inspired after a meeting with the hospital's seamstress and seeing her sewn dresses for the still-born babies, Brett initiated the Memory Dress project which ran over an eight month period, and was part of Triskel Art Centre's artistic programme based at St Finbarr's Hospital.

Description

The artwork The Lost Children responds to a particular hospital's landscape with its embedded social memory and intimate recollections relating to the site's laundry.
Over time, staff, patients and visitors revealed memories of unmarried pregnant girls brought to the laundry by shamed families, and of babies taken secretly at birth and given or sold to new parents. Cherished memories of children loved and lost but not forgotten. The artwork was created by Marie Brett in response to these shared memories.

Mediation

The Irish Examiner, review, 30 March, 2007

Biographies

Marie Brett is based in County Cork. Her practice spans video, sculpture and installation, as well as participatory public art and in-context projects. Her work has been presented in exhibitions and events nationally and internationally and her sculpture is held in numerous public collections throughout Ireland and the UK. She holds an MA and a 1st class BA honours from Goldsmith's College, London University.

Commission Type Other
Commissioner Name Health Service Executive, Southern Region and Triskel Arts Centre
Project commission dates July 31, 2006 - March 1, 2007
Public Presentation dates March 28, 2007 - March 25, 2007
Partners Triskel Arts Centre
Health Service Executive, Southern Region
Artform Visual Arts
Art Practice Arts and health
Funded By The Arts Council,Other
Budget Range 0 - 10000 euro
Project commission start date 31/07/2006
Project commission end date 01/03/2007
Location St Finbarr's Hospital, Cork (installation)
Triskel Arts Centre (exhibition)

County Cork
Town Cork
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Content contributor(s) Marie Brett
Relationship to project Artist
Public engagement

Patients, staff and visitors to St Finbarr's Hospital, Cork

Associated professionals / Specialists involved

Marie Brett, Artist
Charlotte Donovan, Hospital Artist-in-Residence