Abigail McCarthy
Statement
I am a textile artist specialising in drawing with embroidery from West Waterford, Ireland. My work reflects my love for my country and her history, particularly her Celtic history. Mythology and female power are the main focus in my works through a gothic, modern lens. Puppetry, pattern design and embroidery enable me to tell these stories of ancient Ireland. The Morrigan, also known as the Phantom Queen, is one of the most dominant and powerful Goddesses of the Celts. Associated with magic, transformation, crows, war, fertility, death, and prophecy she is a fascinating creature of many talents. My work focuses on the contrast between her in terms of life and death, and woman to creature. I capture her seductive beauty through embroidered faces and rich colours, while honing in on abstracted forms to remove her from the idealised ethereal connotations that come with the term 'goddess'. I aim to honour Ireland's rich spiritual history while reimagining its myths for a contemporary audience.