Exhibition catalogue for Bones in the Attic
(11 August – 30th September 2022)
This powerful and fully illustrated publication accompanies Bones in the Attic, a landmark inter-generational exhibition at Hugh Lane Gallery that confronts the enduring impact of gender-based oppression and reclaims the strength of the feminine voice in Irish cultural history and contemporary society.
Bringing together the work of eleven Irish women artists, Bones in the Attic explores recurring societal narratives that have shaped and constrained women’s lives—from ancient mythologies to present-day injustices. Through painting, sculpture, film, and installation, the exhibition offers a searing meditation on patriarchy, violence, autonomy, and survival.
The publication features texts by Tessa Giblin (Director of Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh), Dr Mary Condren (Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, TCD), and poet Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, each expanding on the themes of the exhibition with insight and urgency. Designed by Dublin-based artist and designer Oonagh Young, the publication is as visually compelling as it is intellectually resonant.
Artists from the Hugh Lane Gallery’s collection—Rita Duffy, Dorothy Cross, Kathy Prendergast, Alice Maher, and Jesse Jones—are presented alongside invited contemporary artists Myrid Carten, Eleanor McCaughey, Amanda Doran, Sarah Jayne Booth, Ruby Wallis, and the collective Na Cailleacha. Their works are united by a common purpose: to question, to remember, and to assert new pathways forward.
Rooted in histories of resistance and inspired by archetypes from Irish myth to modern marginalisation, Bones in the Attic positions art as a vital force in feminist discourse—one that gives voice, visibility, and agency to women across generations.
An essential publication for those interested in contemporary feminism, Irish cultural history, and the role of art in social critique, this book extends the conversation beyond the gallery walls.
Available now in the Gallery Bookshop and online at hlgallerybooks.com.
Price: €10
For enquiries:
Tel: 089 2202855
Email: [email protected]
