My work is about memory. I work mainly with used textiles. I am interested in womens’ past associations with textiles. Making, decorating, mending and washing household textiles and clothing used to take up a large portion of womens’ time and energy. From childhood girls would have learned needlework, neat stitching for decoration and strength. Keeping clothes clean and the family and the whiteness of washing line in good order was an important measure in the local society of the womans’ worth and morals.

Clothes define us, they tell the outside world who we are and how we want to be seen. Clothing and bedlinen take on certain characteristics of the wearer. The position we sleep in, the wear on collar and cuffs, the bits that bobble with rubbing and wear. Our skin cells rub into the weave of the fabric and are held there even through washing. Clothing has associations and memories and at key moments in our lives, christenings, confirmations weddings etc. The clothing worn for these occasions is frequently carefully folded, stored and saved, then opened, stroked, sniffed and held up to bring back the memories of the special day and those involved.

In my current work I have been looking at the First World War and the women who remained spinsters due to the horrific loss of young mens’ life in the trenches. The hopes and natural expectations of a whole generation of young women were shattered. While working and waiting for the end of the war, women passed the time waiting and preparing for peace to come and life resume its natural course. The body of work I have produced is an unworn wedding dress and trousseau embroidered with the hopes, fears and expectations that dress would have led to.

Helen O'Leary