Forest as a living artwork in tribute to the those affected by historic injustice in women’s healthcare.
Artistic collaboration recognises experiences and legacy of those impacted by CervicalCheck debacle.
221+, the patient support group for the women and families affected by the past failings of CervicalCheck screening service today (Wednesday, 11 September, 2024) unveiled a unique and moving tribute to the lives and experiences of those impacted.
‘The forest that won’t forget’ (TFTWF) is a living, breathing artwork to publicly acknowledge a major historic injustice in women’s healthcare.
Located near Ennis in Co. Clare, TFTWF, will be a place to celebrate growth, life and the enduring resilience of those who suffer and survive loss.
The launch took place at an event in the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) attended by 221+ members and their families as well as friends, supporters and stakeholders from the healthcare and arts communities.
The selection of TFTWF has emerged from a collaborative process engaged in by the members of 221+ over the past three years. A core group of five members has worked with artists Fiona Whelan and John Conway who were commissioned by 221+ in 2021 to assist it responding to a request from members to memorialise the losses they had experienced through a piece of artwork.
The group connected with the wider membership through a variety of creative processes to understand the aspirations of members and to co-develop suitable creative cultural responses.
That work created a series of written, visual and performative artworks and evolved the concept of a living artwork and the desire for a shared place to go.
The choice of a forest to meet that desire came from a recognition that the forest is home to a vast and diverse array of life that is innately resilient, nurturing, powerful and that renews itself continually.
The site chosen has been selected in conjunction with Hometree, a nature restoration charity, based in the west of Ireland which works to establish and restore resilient habitats, focusing on native temperate rainforests.
The launch of The forest that won’t forget signals the beginning of a new phase of work which, funding dependent, will develop in a number of ways. This includes the development of infrastructure on the land to accommodate and welcome 221+ members, guests and publics.
Speaking at the launch, on behalf of 221+ members, Lyn Fenton, a member of the core group said, “this project started with a desire not to forget and the choice of a place and a setting that will, literally, live forever, goes further than any memorial ever could. The forest that won’t forget is a glorious site that is rich in both flora and fauna, with stories to tell that are centuries in the making and that will live beyond us all. We can think of no better way to celebrate those who were denied the opportunity to be here to visit a place like this themselves”.
In the words of the artist Fiona Whelan “Our collaboration with 221+ has been focused on developing a series of artworks drawing attention to the lived experiences and narratives of members. The forest that won’t forget is the first public artwork from this collaborative process. This national living artwork commits to never forgetting the experiences of women and families affected by the CervicalCheck failure, while creating a space for generating new memories and experiences.”
Artist John Conway added “No single artistic gesture could encompass the complexities and trauma that women and bereaved families have experienced as a result of the failures of the CervicalCheck programme. As artists, we feel that the forest that won’t forget, which is a physical and metaphorical site for unity, goes someway to acknowledge and hold space for a multitude of lived experiences, for now and into the future.”
At today’s launch, 221+ announced a fundraising initiative to support the further development of The forest that won’t forget which includes an idonate page – https://www.idonate.ie/forms/TheForestThatWontForget
Ceara Martyn, Manager of the 221+ Patient Support Group outlined the intention to establish some basic infrastructure at the site to facilitate visitors. “We want it to be accessible both as a place for public recognition and private reflection on the experience and learning from CervicalCheck. We hope too in the future that further artistic, ecological and educational projects could be housed there”.
The forest that won’t forget project is supported by the Irish Museum of Modern Art and by the National Museum of Ireland. It is funded by the Arts Council and by 221+.
More details and some imagery is available at http://www.theforestthatwontforget.ie/
ENDS
FOR REFERENCE
For media inquiries please contact Padraig McKeon by phone 087 2312632 or by email via communications@221plus.ie.
For all other inquiries: info@221plus.ie
BACKGROUND
The forest that won’t forget site is in an ecologically rich area north of Ennis, in Co. Clare. The site rises to a peak of 297 metres above sea level, with views looking west over Inchicronan Lough. It is envisioned as a place for current and future generations to visit and reflect. It will be a place for remembering the past and imagining the future while having an eternal legacy that will outlive us all.
The core group of 221+ members working with the project is Lyn Fenton, Elizabeth Byrne, Wendy Stringer, Nicola O’Sullivan and Carla Duggan.
The artists working with 221+ on TFTWF are Fiona Whelan and John Conway
Fiona’s arts practice is committed to exploring and responding to systemic power relations and inequalities through long-term cross-sectoral collaborations with diverse individuals, groups and organisations. Fiona is also a committed writer, her writing focusing on the complex relationality, labour and ethical challenges of her arts practice. Fiona is Programme Leader of the MA/MFA Art and Social Action at NCAD.
John is a visual artist working extensively in complex healthcare and community health contexts. Previous projects include long term collaborations with breast cancer survivors, mothers of children in end of life care, paediatric healthcare staff, and family members of forensic mental healthcare patients.
Fiona and John combined their skills and methodological approaches to work with 221+ members across Ireland building relationships and gaining insights into the lived experience of those affected by CervicalCheck.
Hometree is a nature restoration charity, based in the west of Ireland which works to establish and conserve permanent native woodland in Ireland, encouraging land regeneration and biodiversity through afforestation, restoration and education. Hometree’s approach integrates community, culture, science and natural systems. It is funded from partnerships, people and businesses who share and wish to support Hometree’s goals.
The 221+ Patient Support Group was established in September 2018 to provide information, advice, and support to the women and families directly affected by failures in the CervicalCheck Screening Programme that came to light following a court settlement achieved by Limerick woman Vicky Phelan in April 2018.