The Anatomy of Hope
‘The Anatomy of Hope’ is a new animated film piece by artist Rita Duffy, which will screen at the front of Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan from April 3–11. “Covid-19 blasted in from nowhere, gathering pace as it whipped around the globe and smashed all our doors closed in its deadly draft. I began drawing,” recalls Rita.
“In lockdown, no travelling out was permitted, I began an instinctive journey inwards. All doors of escape had closed, no cheap flights that cost the earth were available. Through the summer months my drawing continued; a resilient brain wears a daisy chain crown, supporting the thought, ‘we will survive this pandemic and live to tell the tale’. Lungs appear like gossiping women wearing west of Ireland shawls. We approached winter darkness, challenged by the hardest part of our collective struggle. The drawings flowed, and the ‘Anatomy of Hope’ animation began.
“I reach back to the ageless rituals of Brigid, the cloak that gathers us in, safe in its shelter, wishing trees and holy wells and cures, dark shadowy places filled with magic and hope. Superstitious ribbons and St Brigid's red rags impaled on thorns, suffering on, offering it up, enduring, at all costs doing the right thing. Keeping the door closed is not a long-term strategy; we are being forced to break with the past and find new paths. It was a year of global humbling, a moment when the confident certainties of what we knew as normal disappeared. We now need the spiritual force of art to lead us forward - art is the suitcase of history carrying the essentials, art is the lifebuoy, art is seed, art is memory, art is vaccine,” says Rita. Created with the assistance of animators Méabh Gilheaney, Rhea Hanlon and Cassie Galloway, ‘The Anatomy of Hope’ will be screened at Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan from 7pm – 11pm every evening from April 3-11, 2021. All are welcome. Viewers are reminded to observe social distancing and Covid-19 restrictions.
This project was made possible with the support of Cavan Arts Office and Cavan County Library Service under the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage Percent for Art Scheme.