Wholly Trinity: Abortion, art and activism beyond borders

Join us for an online ‘watch party’ and panel discussion to celebrate the release of the mini-documentary film, Wholly Trinity: Abortion, Art and Activism in Ireland.

Register for your free place via Eventbrite

Art has always been a powerful vehicle for social justice, and the struggle for abortion rights throughout the island of Ireland was no exception.

Wholly Trinity: Abortion, Art and Activism in Ireland is a beautiful short film produced collaboratively by The Open University, Alliance for Choice, and The Array Collective, which depicts the commitment, creativity, colour, and emotion that artists brought to the Irish abortion rights campaigns.

Through interviews with the artists themselves, the film describes how they used creativity and performance to inspire people to action, ignite powerful conversations and build communities of solidarity. It explores how art can change opinions, transcend barriers, shape narratives and make history, her story and their story.

Join us for an online ‘watch party’ of Wholly Trinity followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with the academics and artist-activists involved in the creation of the film; exploring the influence of art and activism beyond borders.

Host:

• Professor Lesley Hoggart, The Open University

Panel:

• Professor Peter Keogh, The Open University in Ireland
• Helena Walsh, Artist and Activist (Speaking of IMELDA)
• Emma Campbell, Artist and Activist (The Array Collective & Alliance for Choice), and narrator of the film
   

About the speakers

Lesley Hoggart (she/her) is Professor of Social Policy Research and Associate Dean of Research at The Open University. Her research projects are focused on reproductive health, abortion policy and politics, and sexual health, and she has published widely in these areas. Her most recent publication is on abortion and social connectedness and is freely available. Other outputs include the award-winning MyBodyMyLife abortion story-telling exhibition. She is co-director, with Jayne Kavanagh, of the charity Abortion Talk.

Peter Keogh (he/him) is Professor of Health and Society based at The Open University in Ireland. He has many years’ experience in participatory and community-based research and knowledge production in the areas of sexuality and reproduction including HIV/AIDS, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, and Reproductive Justice. Peter is involved in developing The Body Politic Learning Hub with Alliance for Choice; an online learning hub for reproductive justice activists in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

Helena Walsh (she/her) is an Irish Live Artist. Her practice explores the relations between gender, national identity and cultural histories. Helena has performed widely in galleries, museums, theatres and non-traditional art spaces, including public sites. In 2013 she completed her PhD in the Department of Drama, Queen Mary University of London focussed on Live Art and femininity in post-conflict Ireland. Helena co-founded the pro-choice direct-action feminist performance group, Speaking of IMELDA. She regularly presents and writes on feminist performance practice and is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Arts London.

Emma Campbell (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary Research Associate on the Shared Island Reproductive Citizenship project and a part-time tutor in the Photography Department, both at Ulster University. Her PhD was on utilising socially engaged practice as a tool for abortion rights along with Alliance for Choice where she is co-convenor. Emma is also a member of the Turner Prize-winning Array Collective, whose practice is embedded in queer & feminist art and activism. She makes work that is image-based (photography and collage), participatory, performance-enhanced and active in affecting change.