The Girl-Kings is a reimagined history, one told through the lens of saints and warriors. In this contemporary tale Joan of Arc never burns at the stake, St Dymphna is rescued from her abusive father and never beheaded. The images in this project work almost as portraits of these heretics and runaways, portraits where their fate was triumph instead of tragedy. By staging the portraits at an age before they become teenagers, Girl-Kings presents the possibility of new trajectory. The young girl subjects in these images channel the energy of the legends before and rewrite history for them.
Ashleigh's talisman, July 2017
talisman for a Girl-King, 2017. handbuilt ceramic sword, acrylic paint.
Jeanne before battle, 2017. 60 x 100 cm
Digital drawing on 100% cotton, handbuilt ceramic pole, acrylic paint.
on trial, 2017. graphite on paper, 14 x 20 cm
Ashleigh, June 2017
Ella, July 2017
Tierna, July 2017
Ashleigh, July 2017
Ella on turf throne, June 2017
Ella in the bog, July 2017
Ashleigh, July 2017
Heretic Girls, July 2017
Tierna, July 2017
Roan, July 2017
Ashleigh, July 2017
Siobhain, July 2017
Ceoila, July 2017
Joan and her voice, July 2017