Powerful art exhibition marks lives of people in mother and baby homes

A powerful new exhibition telling the stories of women affected by one of the darkest periods of Irish history is set to open in Belfast.

The Sunflower Project Exhibition brings together writings, paintings and personal items of a group of women at mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland.

Research by the Queen’s University Belfast found that more than 14,000 girls and women went through the doors of mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and other institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1990.

It found that many were mistreated, held against their will and forced to give up children for adoption.

The exhibition, which will take place at the Vertical Gallery at the Linen Hall Library in Belfast in November, comes after two and a half years of workshops aimed at supporting women to express themselves and provides a deep insight into the impact of the homes on the lives of the women and their babies.

It also includes Christening robes, baby outfits knitted at the homes, and ornate tiles from the Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry.

Director of The Linen Hall, Julie Andrews, described the exhibition as “important and profoundly moving”, drawing attention to the legacy of mother and baby homes and to the lasting impact those institutions had on people’s lives.

“The Linen Hall has a long history as a space for the discussion and exploration of difficult subjects and we hope that this exhibition will help to give people a deeper understanding and appreciation of the experiences of victims and survivors of mother and baby homes,” she said.

“We are delighted to be working with Sole Purpose Productions and to support a project that shows so powerfully how the arts can help people to find a voice and tell even the most traumatic stories.”

Artistic director of Sole Purpose Productions Patricia Byrne said the project had been deeply moving and profound for all those involved.

“It was incredible and really heartening to see how the women developed during the process, how they were able to find their voices and end the years of silence and shame,” she said.

The Sunflower Project Exhibition is in The Linen Hall Library from November 4 to November 29 in The Vertical Gallery. It is free to attend.

A short film of monologues written and performed by the group will be part of the exhibition and will be shown on a loop on November 12, 20 and 28 from 10am – 12 noon.