Domestic Goddess; Worship at her Altar

"Welcome to my textile temple, transporting you to a place of worship where divinity meets domesticity. Growing up in Belfast amid a climate of conflict, religion, worship, power and politics became embedded in the fabric of my world. Mining mythology for female narratives and reclaiming them is a recurring theme in my work. Here you meet a triptych of Athena, Gaia and Medusa, Goddesses long before the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. These Goddesses were equal parts divine and deeply flawed as mothers, lovers and sisters. Irish and Nigerian goddesses Ãine and Oshun, from two places a world apart. They represent the sun and the river bringing love, fertility and abundance.

The Domestic Throne is dedicated to those who have little time for magic. The processes of repetition, hand knotting and stitching, honour the everyday unpaid labour of parents and carers. In our capitalist society this domestic labour is not included in what is our “economy”, but where would we be without it? Come worship at her Altar.

All textiles are alteration remnants of some of the great fashion houses, places of modern worship."

Jenny McIlhatton (b.1985) A sustainable textile artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Jenny will take part in the MASS Sculpture correspondence course 2024/25, founded by YBA Marcus Harvey. She is currently supported by New Platform Art and Artiq. In 2023 Jenny was a grantee of the British council in the Philippines and the Forest preservation (PH) to work in conversation and collaboration with the Indigenous Kalandang (Peace) weavers, the works created for this project were shown in London and at the UP CHE Costume Museum (PH). She has also taken part in the prestigious PADA residency in Portugal 2023 and won a judges choice award at the world festival of Quilts 2022.

Breath of Athena
2024. Recycled fashion waste, thread and hand painted frame.

Athena was the favourite daughter of Zeus. She was chosen to breathe life into Prometheus’ clay figures that would become humanity. The skilled weaving of Athena was said to rival the Three Fates, who spun, wove and cut every mortal life. Ungodly pride in the purity of her temple caused Athena to curse Medusa’s gaze, to kill all living things.

For Gaia and Working Women Everywhere
2024. Recycled fashion waste, thread and hand painted frame.

Gaia was the primordial earth goddess who birthed the sky and ocean without a partner. Grandmother of Zeus, Gaia also enlisted her son to castrate her husband. Her ancient name is the origin of words like geology, geography and geometry.

An Ocean of Sadness for Medusa
2024. Recycled fashion waste, thread and hand painted frame.

Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters, another ancient female trinity. She was the victim of Poseidon’s lust and Athena’s scorn yet history cast Medusa as the villain in Perseus’ story. In truth Perseus beheaded a cursed goddess to wield her power, he is no hero without Medusa.

Domestic Throne
2024. Ercol Dining Chair, hand knotted recycled textile and thread.

Elevating the domestic to the divine, this loved and used dining chair from my own home, becomes the centre of this Altar. A true labour of love featuring hundreds of hand tied knots, dedicated to the unpaid labour of parents and carers. Knots are a measurement of speed and symbolise the passing of time. The ancient Incas used knots on string as a form of communication.

During lockdown the fashion alteration service that I collect waste from was making protective textile masks, the stacks of precut rectangles left over were used to create this work.

Ãine (pronounced aw-ne)
2024. Recycled fashion waste, recycled frame and thread.

Ãine the Irish Goddess of love and midsummer, Queen of the Fae (Fairies).

Growing up in Belfast there was so much in a name, it clearly identified the side of the peace wall you were from. This is dedicated to all those with power in their names.

Oshun River of Power
2024. Recycled fashion waste, recycled frame and thread.

Oshun a Nigerian Goddess, the only female amongst seventeen deities sent to earth. The males, not able to bring life turned to her for help. Calling forth her powerful waters Oshun brought life, fertility and abundance.

Whilst I’m fascinated by ancient goddesses I am endlessly inspired by the women in my own life and their cultures.