November 25th is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To mark this date and raise funds, Women’s Aid are raffling six unique takes on the iconic Lady on the Rock statue, created by some incredibly talented Irish artists, designers, activists and the editor of this publication.
“Once you notice her, you’ll see her everywhere. Resplendent in white, reclining casually with cloth covering her more offensive bits, she looks down on the streets of Dublin with a sort of disinterest that implies superior concerns.” This in the intro to an article which Karl McDonald wrote for this publication over a decade ago. He set about tracing the “Phenomenon of Dublin’s Own Venus De Milo” accompanied by illustrations by Fuchsia MacAree.
When asked by Women’s Aid Ireland if we’d like to put our twist on the Lady, we were admittedly caught in the headlights of fear. However, this article counts as one of our ‘all time greats’ and we decided to dig out original copies and start adorning the Lady with references and questions which the article raised in relation to her origins, the myths and classism.
“She is to art as Fields of Athenry remixes are to music. No experts love it or even pay attention to it. It’s not part of any canon someone might try to claim. But it exists, and it’s extremely popular, if quite localised,” wrote McDonald.
We’ve given it our modest best shot and are happy to be in the company of talent in aid of a most worthy cause.
The Ladies are being reconceived by: Andrea Horan, Madam of Tropical Popical, Aoife Bambury, Sculptor & Visual Artist, Fran Hartnett, Musician & Visual Artist, Holly Pereira, Illustrator & Muralist, Julie Danz, Founder & Designer at Juvi Designs and Michael McDermott from this parish.
FIGURES IN RELATION TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
- Everyday 137 women are killed by a member of their family (UN Women, 2019)
- Since 1996, 263 women have died violently in the Republic of Ireland, 63% of these women were killed in their own homes. (Women’s Aid Femicide Watch, 2023)
- One in four women in Ireland who have been in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner. (Women’s Aid, 2022)
- In more than 40% of cases, children who live with domestic violence abuse are also frequently directly abused, physically or sexually (Tusla, 2015).
The finished pieces will be on exhibition for one night only in Lucky’s on Meath Street on November 23. All pieces will then be raffled off on November the 30 with all funds raised going to Women’s Aid. idonate.ie/raffle/STOP
