Beyond our Grasp

“Religion is not just a set of ethical, ontological or theological assertions, but a dynamic, lived, and fluidly embodied set of actions, practices, gestures and speech acts at specific points in time and space. Its meaning comes not only through theological argument, but also through ritual, liturgy, prayer and meditation. In short, religions exist because they are performed.”

‘Beyond our Grasp’ is a digital exhibition exploring the hybrid nature of modern faith, performativity and our relationships with objects.

OBJECTS

Many tresured items form the uniquely Irish experience of faith, almost mundane we become used to their prescence. They are lessons about the art of living, the souvenirs or talismen that aid the progression of your journey. Possessions can become part of your identity either reflecting what is already there or creating what you wish others to see, and the balance of people and objects in your life showing how one can compensate for the other.

FOLKLORE

Revisiting Knock, Co.Mayo — A place of ritual, tradition and pilgrimage. There is tension for many within the patriarchy of Catholicism. A culture of shame finds little place in a modern world. The female experience within faith is a distinct and often limiting one.

THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

It is told that in 1830 the Virgin Mary appeared to a French nun, displaying herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe. She wore many rings set with gems that shone rays of light over the globe. Sister Catherine then heard the Virgin Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying "All who wear them will receive great graces."

DECORATION

There are many aspects to our daily performance. We use clothing as an identifier, and tattoos as a means of decoration is the norm. This type of mark making is rife with symbolism but the two are not mutually exclusive. The Sacred Heart still today is considered an object to worship by those who have been healed from an illness, so much that the Catholic religious hierarchy was concerned about the fact that in reality it was a sort of idolatry.

PERFORMANCE

Though used for decoration, items of jewellery hold a significant symbolism in their physical nature. Considering the crucifix worn to outwardly align oneself with a group and a scapular worn beneath the clothes, both adorn the body but serve different purposes. What relics and symbols are left that we cling to?