Eva Harrington
she/her
Shattered Reflections
The starting point for this project was a process of brainstorming words linked to my childhood experiences—specifically, growing up in a household with an alcoholic. These words attempt to interpret and make visual connections to my experience, such as ‘isolate’, ‘lost time/gaps in time’ ‘danger/safety’, ‘euphoria/depression’ and most prevalently ‘unravel’.
To visualise these concepts, I selected objects that serve as metaphors or communicators of these feelings. I also explore the dual use of objects associated with alcohol in the home, the destructive duplicity of the hidden bottles and empty glasses and cans. By physically breaking these down and pulverising these objects, aim to reflect their emotional and symbolic weight.
This imagery is contrasted with sources of personal comfort from my childhood, such as my teddy, and is displayed on objects typically associated with childhood. Through this juxtaposition, the work reveals the jarring and complex experience of witnessing alcoholism through the eyes of a child.
Teaching Placements
St. Catherine’s National School, Donore Avenue, Dublin
Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh, Dublin
Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont, Dublin
Ardscoil la Salle, Raheny, Dublin