A unique exhibition, funded by Research Ireland, merging art, science, and community will be launched in The Hunt Museum, Limerick on 24 April 2025 by Lynn Scarff, Director, National Museum of Ireland ahead of a nationwide tour. Entitled ‘Cut From the Same Cloth’, the multimedia exhibition is the culmination of a project curated by artist, Lorna Donlon in partnership with women in minority communities across Ireland and biomedical researchers from UCD Conway Institute in University College Dublin (UCD).
Through a series of ten gatherings in community settings around Ireland in 2024, women shared personal stories about fabrics significant to their cultural traditions, customs and lived experience. These ‘get-togethers’ provided an opportunity for researchers to share the parallels between patterns in textiles and those seen at the cellular level in health research.
Inspired by these stories, Lorna Donlon created a handwoven tapestry that bridges personal and scientific narratives through fabric and is complemented in the exhibition by research textiles, photographs by Anthony Hobbs and video narratives by Crannóg Media. Each fabric story is a doorway into the pattern of a person’s life or of their life’s work. The tapestry includes a readable, embedded woven QR code that links to the digital version of the exhibition (https://cutfromthesamecloth.org/), marrying an ancient technique with a contemporary technology.
Lorna Donlon, Artist, ‘Cut From the Same Cloth’ said; “Creating this tapestry has been a deeply meaningful process, weaving together not just fabric but the stories of individuals who are often overlooked in research. By reimagining biomedical data as art, I hope to show how science and personal experience are connected, reminding us all that every thread in our community matters.”
Professor Amanda McCann, University College Dublin, academic lead of ‘Cut From the Same Cloth’ project and the ‘Patient Voice in Health Research’ initiative said; “Through this project, we want to create an inclusive environment where minority communities can actively be involved in and contribute to the progress of health research, enriching both the research landscape and the broader community. Cloth allowed us to find common ground in an equitable, open and transparent way”.
The biomedical researchers involved in this project are working in disease areas such as ovarian, prostate and breast cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, nutrition in pregnancy, bacterial vaccines, motor neuron disease, skin burn wounds, rare respiratory diseases and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Arman Rahman, University College Dublin who is part of the project team said; “People from minority ethnic groups can often experience poorer health than the rest of the population. As part of the ‘Patient Voice in Health Research’ initiative, UCD Conway researchers connect and engage with minority communities about research developments in health and understand how research can consider their community's needs.”
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland said; “We are very proud to support this project through the Research Ireland Discover programme. This project is a wonderful example of how the intersection of art and science can bolster inclusivity in research. Not only is the work on display at this exhibition beautiful and intricate, but it helps to amplify minority voices in such a universal and moving way.”
Alongside the exhibition, there will be a series of free events featuring insights from Lorna Donlon, researchers, community participants and Elaine Quinn (project lead, UCD Conway Institute).