Corina Duyn and Anna Moore’s ‘Ribbon of Light’ Exhibition was held at the Blackwater Valley Arts Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland. Due to Covid-19 restricting the show unfortunately closed almost as soon as it opened on the 4th October 2020. Here is a short 6 minute video to give a glimpse of both our works and the story around my own.
A press release about both our work can be read below.
Edit 10th January 2022: within six months of the exhibition, which really never was, both our lives changed dramatically. Anna became more ill, I ended up in care. Today I heard that Anna sadly passed away. May she rest in peace.
My heart is filled with memories of the creative journeys we shared over the years. What an honour to have the exhibition together. She did an enormous amount of work for it to make this a reality. Please watch the short video below, which, although mostly about my personal journey, features the work by Anna. Or read the press release below about the stories behind Anna’s work.
If interested in my work please see my Poem page.
‘Ribbon of Light’ press release
‘Ribbon of Light’ is an exhibition of paintings, mixed media, poetry and silhouette art. The work by Co. Waterford artists Corina Duyn and Anna Moore is inspired by their journeys of discovery, and rediscovery of everyday life in response to long-term serious illness. Their art has been an essential component in coming to terms with this experience and finding a sense of well-being. Creative practice keeps both artists hopeful and focused, and helps them make sense of a new reality.
At the early stage of her illness, Anna created a visual and written diary. Over the years these preliminary sketches and doodles were developed into mixed media art pieces and became a metaphor for how she gathered herself when her life was “in ribbons”. A selection of these works are on show in the exhibition.
Corina’s life irrevocably changed 22 years ago due to the onset of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Finding solace in keeping a diary to understand her new life became the catalyst to her art and led to the publication of several books, including the artist book “Into the Light”. Her most recent work is in the form of paper silhouettes created using an overhead projector, seeking light among the shadows of her increasingly disabling illness.
Both artists have exhibited widely in both solo and group exhibitions. Their work is in private and public collections.
Corina Duyn
Corina Duyn is a puppet designer, sculptor and writer; birds being her main inspiration. During 2015/6 she facilitated the ‘Life Outside the Box’ puppet project, funded by the Artist in the Community Scheme, with fellow members of Dungarvan IWA Resource Centre. This project catapulted her into the astonishing world of puppetry at the first ‘Broken Puppet Symposium on Puppetry, Disability & Health’ at UCC. This has led to numerous lecture opportunities worldwide, now solely via Skype/Zoom.
In 2019 Corina was the recipient of an Arts & Disability Connect Mentoring Award. This valuable time with puppet master Dr. Emma Fisher led to the ‘Invisible Octopus’ project. Originally intended to be developed as a puppetry film, this exploration of her, now almost, hermit-like existence has moved into the powerfully accessible art form of shadow puppetry. Cutting images from paper and projected them via an overhead projector on the opposite wall, gives her freedom to create art without needing the practical support of others (as in her day to day living).
The resulting silhouette images are immensely striking in their simple black and white projection. They are a close reflection of her current existence. A series of silhouette prints as well as the accompanying ‘Invisible Octopus’ poem in the form of a limited edition ‘Artist booklet’ are available during the exhibition and online. This project was awarded a Professional Development ArtLinks Bursary in 2020. A selection of her previously published books and prints are also available. Corina created a short video -poem, which can be viewed here.
Corina wrote an article on how being part of this exhibition influenced her work and life See her BLOG
Anna Moore
Anna Moore, a graduate of the Crawford College of Art worked in art and community development both in Ireland and Namibia. On her return from working with the San (formerly known as Bushmen) in Namibia she created large paintings based on the Kalahari. In 2010 she got a very rare autoimmune disease and was seriously debilitated for years. Her work moved from the outer desert landscape to the inner landscape of living with illness.
Early on, to steady herself and to help cope with hand tremors, she started to cut the ribbon loops off the inside of clothing. Then she cut slits in paper and painstakingly threaded them like a weaving. Small sketches and collages followed. Later in her recovery, lack of stamina did not allow for strenuous exercise. She beach-combed instead. The coastline debris, both natural and man-made was a treasure trove and started to be incorporated into the work.
