Caitlín Ní Fhlaitheartaigh
she/her
These works are autobiographical and concern memory, change and the conflicting emotions of nostalgia and humour. Clothes often hold memories of events or stages in our lives. A suit recalls my former office life. Equipped with shoulder pads, belt, and buttons, it symbolises status and embodies the "suited and booted" snappy, business-like approach. Today, my attire is more casual. Yet, the dichotomy between appreciating structure and status and yearning for freedom persists. These works are influenced by artists like Louise Bourgeois, Lara Schnitger, and Yinka Shonibare, who utilise clothing and fabric.
The large-scale single scroll of drawings are somewhat rugged and mirror life’s struggle. The sculptures feature a 3D multimedia construction and four direct clay mould reliefs- vignettes in plaster. They depict the Fosbury Flop high jump method which is a powerful metaphor for risk and abandonment in surmounting an obstacle – a fleeting moment of flight, which is one of life's beautiful experiences.
My past life and its unresolved conflicts, continue to inspire my work.
The Suit, four drawings on handmade Nepalese paper panels, 50cm × 75cm each
Fosbury Flop, mixed media sculptural piece, 32cm x 30cm x 23cm
Suit and Jump, four sculptural plaques, plaster & acrylic paint, 11cm x 12cm x 2cm each