Welcome
The first year of the Occupational Therapy undergraduate course at UCC focuses on occupation and health. Students are encouraged to learn more about themselves as occupational beings and extend this understanding to their family, friends and the people with whom they will work in the future. First year is all about ‘what people do’ and the world in which they do it.
Each year, the first year Occupational Therapy students also have the experience of ‘doing’ creative activities in module OT1005 Creative Occupations and Health. There is a long history of the use of art, craft and creative activities in Occupational Therapy, dating back to the foundation of the profession in 1917 with an understanding of the power of occupation and the harnessing of people’s creative energy. It is argued that occupational therapists need to understand the centrality of creativity to health and well-being, just as they understand the centrality of occupation in daily life.
Each year there is a designated theme for the students to explore in their creative activities. The theme for this cohort’s creative activity sessions and resulting exhibition is ‘Rest’.
In Occupational Therapy, we believe that “occupations” are all the ordinary and extraordinary activities that make up our days. Occupational Therapists consider how energy is both spent and created by people as they do all that they need, want and have to do in their daily lives.
The founders of Occupational Therapy understood the transformative power of and vital need for rest for health. Dr. Adolf Meyer, a Swiss-born psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA and president of the American Psychiatric Association, at an early meeting of the newly established American Occupational Therapy Association in 1921 said “the whole of human organization has its shape in a kind of rhythm....the larger rhythms of night and day, of sleep and waking hours, of hunger and its gratification, and finally the big four-work and play and rest and sleep, which our organism must be able to balance even under difficulty." We need to learn from the wisdom of our founders and make space for rest amidst the busyness of life.
The exhibition will be opened by Anna Navin Young, a Coaching Psychologist, Researcher, and Educator specializing in time awareness and temporal wellness who said “In today’s world, too often we intensify and fragment our time, placing value on how much we can do and how quickly we can do it. Quality rest reminds us that an hour spent calming our nervous systems, connecting meaningfully with ourselves, others, and the world around us; or otherwise feeling fulfilled and nourished in our time use is as fundamental to a life well-lived as an hour spent blasting through our to do list ” .
Dr. Eithne Hunt & Michelle Broderick
Exhibition Curators, Occupational Science + Occupational Therapy, UCC
About Cork Printmakers
The Occupational Therapy students employed a range of printmaking techniques in their exploration of the theme ‘Rest’. Over a six-week period, they worked at Cork Printmakers, which gave them access to technical support, equipment and materials. They explored monoprint, collograph, drypoint and reduction linocut. While developing their practical skills, they creatively delved into the theme in a personal capacity, while also researching artists who work in the field of printmaking.
Cork Printmakers is a print studio and gallery providing artists with a creative and well-equipped environment in which to work and offering audiences a diverse and inclusive environment in which to experience, appreciate, understand and enjoy art. As a resource organisation, it generates professional development opportunities to members. Through its showcasing function, it produces and presents art and critical discourse in the context of a curator-led programme. It plays a key role in the cultural ecology of Cork and is recognised for its activity in Ireland and internationally.
About the Jennings Gallery
The gallery promotes and supports visual literacy and creative growth among the staff, students and graduates of the College of Medicine and Health. It aims to facilitate creativity amongst students and staff by the provision of a dedicated exhibition forum.
The Jennings Gallery
Artist Statements
Molly Bugler
Imperfectly Restful
This year’s printmaking exhibition focused on the theme of rest. At first, I struggled with self-doubt regarding my creative ability. Rather than embracing the process as a source of restoration, I exhausted myself with negative thinking and unhelpful comparison. Desperate to create something for the exhibition, I began searching for inspiration in small moments of rest. Over time, I grew to love how printmaking encouraged me to slow down and appreciate these pauses in my day. Even though the creative journey didn’t go smoothly at first, I persevered and learned to love the process.
Through this experience, I’ve realised that rest isn’t just about stillness—it’s about finding spaces where I can let go and simply be. In moments of exhaustion or emotional overwhelm, I turn the sitcom Friends as a form of restorative escape, finding comfort in its characters, relationships, and endlessly quotable lines. The show, set in the characters' twenties, illustrates the ups and downs of life, teaching me that I don’t need to rush through my own journey, creative or otherwise. Instead, I can embrace the present and appreciate the restful nature of simply being.
The theme song’s lyrics, “Even if it hasn’t been your day, your month, or even your year,” remind me of the importance of resilience and the support of those who make me feel valued. I chose to recreate the iconic couch from Friends because it represents more than just a piece of furniture; it’s a space of connection, relaxation, and emotional release for the six friends, mirroring the essence of rest itself. Every time I watch
Friends, I discover something new whether it’s a joke I hadn’t noticed before, a heartfelt moment that resonates differently, or the comforting familiarity of the theme tune wrapping around me like a soft blanket.
This dynamic experience influenced my artistic choices in creating this artwork. The colourful pieces of my print don’t align perfectly, intentionally reflecting how both the show and rest feel different depending on my mood, circumstances, and perspective. No two moments of rest or viewing experiences are ever quite the same. Just as rest allows me to recharge, revisiting the show helps me feel grounded, reminding me of shared experiences and the power of humour in everyday life.
Jill Butler
Taking a Minute to Rest like a Feather
For this short submission, I have been asked to summarise why I have chosen the piece I have created from my printmaking class for the exhibition at the Jennings Gallery in Autumn 2024. Our theme for the exhibition is “Rest”. I will outline why I have chosen the piece I have chosen.
While attending Cork Printmakers I began to reflect on the piece that I would have to create for the exhibition. I started by reflecting on our topic of “Rest” as in my opinion, it was very wide and diverse. I wrote down what rest means to me by creating a mind map. After coming up with a few ideas, i.e., people resting, or lying down I noticed that none of them made a personal connection to me. Considering this I realised that I wanted to make the connection as personal as possible so that I could benefit from doing so. I continued my journey to find and get inspiration for my chosen piece by walking outside as if I tended to feel stressed or anxious that is where I relax the most.
On walking to the medical centre to receive my vaccination on a cold, wet February day, a beautiful fluffy white feather happened to stop me in my path. I noticed that even though the rain was pouring down, it was a wet Monday morning, and everyone around was rushing about to try to get away from the rain.
The feather in my opinion did not seem to be phased by what was going on around, and wherever it fell from the surroundings did not matter to them as they had to “Rest” in that moment.
White feathers also hold a symbolic meaning to me as I associate them with my late dad who passed away 19 years ago. They both bring me comfort and joy but also as a sign that no matter how busy or stressful my situation is, it is ok to take a moment to rest for a few minutes and assess the situation. Feathers to me can be seen as light and airy. Feathers to me prioritise rest from falling from the wings of a bird attending to the feeling of being in the moment and resting even for a few minutes in the busy world we live in. In addition to this, I find my life sometimes can be hectic, however by relaxing we strengthen and recover, just like a feather before it takes flight again. In Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Hope is a thing with feathers” it states: “Hope is a thing with feathers, That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all.”
In my opinion, I can also link hope and rest together as when I rest, I reflect and consider what I am grateful for whether them being big or small things. This in return would portray a sense of hope at the end of my reflection.
Eimear Carr
Sweet Dreams
I chose 'Sweet Dreams' as it is one of my most chaotic pieces. I had the most fun creating it. I am proud of the print although it may be messy and rough. I got to experiment with a variety of techniques when creating it. I feel that it truly encapsulates the theme of 'rest'. The stars and the moon provide an element of peace and serenity. Rest does not always look perfect, and the scratchy lines of the print communicate this.
Caoimhe Carroll
Moonlit Bliss
Initially when I heard that our theme for our prints would be ‘rest’, I struggled to find inspiration for my print as I found that the term ‘rest’ was very vague. While I reflected on the moments in my life in which I found ‘rest’ many memories came to mind, but one image stuck out in my head in particular. Ever since I was young my family would go to Kerry every summer.
We stayed in my grandaunt's old house by the sea, which faced out onto the beach. When I was younger, I never fully grasped the restorative power of nature. My mam would beg me to join her as she sat out in the evenings, staring out onto the sea as the moon hung in the sky. It has not been until recent years that I found enjoyment and peace in also doing this.
The tranquil scene of the moon hanging above the waves captures the essence of peace and calmness. The image of the moon’s light being reflected against the waves offers me a momentary escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Often, I drifted off to sleep as the sound of the waves crashing against the beach played softly in my ears.
I labelled this print ‘Moonlit Bliss’ as it was both the calming nature of the sea and the image of the bright moon hanging above that brought me rest. It represents the summer nights I spent by the beach on my own or with the company of my family. These were restful moments I got to experience with my mam especially, where we appreciated our own private gem together in peace.
Aoife Clancy
The Simple Art of a Cup of Tea
When I think of the term rest, I think of the everyday moments which offer a source of respite and a break from the franticness of everyday life which is why my print represents what I consider to be my most restorative daily activity- drinking tea. Drinking tea encapsulates and embodies my personal understanding of the term “Rest”. Most mornings begin with a cup of tea in hand which sets me up for the day ahead as I bask in the early morning quietness before the busyness of life commences. Furthermore, drinking tea is an activity I enjoy doing alone or in the company of others both scenarios offering a moment of calm, a chance to slow down as well as a chance to catch up. Each cup of tea not only offers me the opportunity to savour life’s simple pleasures, but it also rejuvenates both my body and my soul one comforting sip at a time.
Ellen Delaney
The Lighthouse
In the hubbub of life, how can we find time to rest? When informed of this year’s theme, I reflected deeply on the place of rest in my own life. It can be hard to find time amongst daily demands and expectations to prioritise yourself. And so, for my creative piece, I chose to design a lighthouse. Rest can be a guide and savour as we navigate the turbulence of life, helping us back to calmer shores. It can represent a beacon of light and comfort in difficult periods of our lives. Rest has the ability to keep you afloat even in times of chaos.
For this piece I used mono print, which is a free hand technique and allowed me to truly engage with the fluidity of my creativity. When reflecting further on how I cope with incorporating restorative activities into the bustling nature of life, I always seemed to find comfort in returning to reliable and familiar sources of rest. These often take the form of my favourite literature and films. Some of examples of these include the novel “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf and the movie “La La Land”, which features the “Lighthouse Café”. It felt fitting to incorporate these into my design. They have the ability to help me to detach from my worries and return me to a relaxed state of mind.
Eimear Desmond Lyng
Napping
The theme for this year’s art exhibition is rest. To me rest encompasses all the occupations I engage in that help replenish my energy levels. Starting college has definitely proven to me just how essential prioritising restoration is. In September, there were so many new demands placed on me. From attending lectures, to cooking my own meals, to doing laundry there seemed to be an endless to do list. While many forms of rest helped me to deal with this stress, it was my new favourite occupation that provided me with the most relief, napping. Just 30 minutes of additional sleep during the day helps me to restore my energy levels. After napping I feel so much more productive but also so much more keen to engage in social occupations, something that is of the utmost importance to me. Consequently, I decided to base my print around the act of a casual nap. Using a deep blue ink, to inspire thoughts of relaxation, my photo is a Lino print of a lady napping. As Lino was the technique I found the most relaxing and enjoyable, I felt it was appropriate that this should be my final piece.
Lauren Duckworth Smullen
Willow
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Cork Printmakers. Although printmaking was a completely new experience for me and something I was very unfamiliar with, I learned to embrace it. Throughout our first year as occupational therapy students, we learned the importance of rest and the impact it has on both our mental and physical well-being. When exploring the theme of rest and what it meant to me, I immediately thought of my dog Willow. We got Willow only four years ago during lockdown, however it feels like she has always been a part of the family. Willow enjoys going for walks on the beach and playing with her toys, but her favourite thing to do is rest.
Therefore, I chose to create an image of Willow sleeping for my final picture as I believe she captures what it means to be truly restful. Spending time with her whether it is going for a walk or running around the house playing with her toys makes me feel rested and restored. To me Willow is more than just a pet, she is a constant source of joy and comfort. Her presence creates a sense of calm in my life. She is my constant reminder to enjoy the simple moments as a dog’s love is unconditional. She is proof the best way to recharge is to simply be present in the moment with those who bring you joy and comfort.
Alannah Dunford
Rest in the Form of a Faithful Companion
The theme of this year’s OT1005 exhibition is “rest”. Poet William Cowper once said that “Absence of occupation is not rest – A mind quite vacant is a mind distress’d”. This really resonated with me and is exactly how I feel when it comes to rest; when my mind is unoccupied I tend to feel stressed or anxious about things to come in the future. I have learned from studying OT this year that rest does not necessarily mean sleep and can involve any occupations that provide a break or rejuvenation for a person. This is why I picked an image of my dog Alfie, a four-year-old golden doodle that we have had since I was fourteen. Golden doodles are, as in the name, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. They were initially bred in Australia and the United States during the 1990s, to be used as care and therapy dogs due to their friendly, affectionate and trustworthy nature. Alfie has all of those qualities and so much more; he is an integral part of our family and as someone who regularly experiences anxiety, I benefit a lot from having him around. Alfie is very calm, quiet and patient, and most of all he loves affection. When I need a break from work or even just to relax, my first instinct is to go to Alfie who is always delighted to interact with me.
He is great to calm and distract my mind and is a huge source of comfort for everyone in the family due to his patient and loving nature. He loves showing affection to his owners as well as receiving it, and never fails to evoke positive emotions in me whilst unintentionally giving me the break that I need from everything going on around me.
Katie English
The Dove
The theme of this year's art exhibition is rest. When I think about the word ‘rest’ many ideas spring to mind. I chose a dove as my final piece as I believe that the dove is the perfect image to represent what my idea of rest is. Doves portray rest primarily through their tranquil manner. Doves are known to seek out a peaceful environment in which to perch in the sunshine. When I envision rest, similarly to the dove I also seek out an environment of tranquility and solace. This peaceful environment can allow for rest to occur naturally. Doves are a symbol of spreading the message of peace and love across the world. I believe that without peace and love, no one would truly feel rested. The dove acts as a reminder to every one of the importance of finding moments of peace and rest in our busy lives. I chose the colour blue to paint the dove to represent the colour of the sky. The dove has freedom as it sores through the open sky. To me, the idea of freedom is peaceful, tranquil and restful. When I have freedom, I feel at ease. I feel that I can relax and forget about all my worries. I can rest.
Ilona Grogan
The White Lotus
When selecting artwork for the exhibition, I was torn between two quite different pieces. My hesitations stemmed from the awareness that the paragraph accompanying it would be published and potentially read by others. With this knowledge came a sense of responsibility and… fear. I had an option to remain impersonal and write something inspiring, something that could make a difference, something impactful.
With that in mind I created a print which, I thought, represented a stance for those who do not have the privilege of rest, those who work tirelessly. The White Lotus. As taught by my yoga teacher, Didi Ananda Prama, the white lotus symbolizes a pure mind – and is visualized as an offering at the conclusion of meditation (Ananda Prama, 2024).
Rachel Hallahan Alfie
My dog Alfie at a first glance does not encompass anything to do with rest, he is an energetic dog who enjoys numerous walks a day and has not spent a full day inside a house in his life.
However, to me Alfie is epitome of rest, a calming presence on my return home at the weekends, his gentle head resting upon my leg the minute I get to sit down.
By making this print of Alfie I was reminded of all the times Alfie had provided me and my family with rest in stressful situations, and this made me appreciate him much more.
When detailing his happy face, I thought of the times in the mornings when my dad was cleaning the milking parlour after he lost his cows Alfie would whine until my dad took a break to give him a hug like he had done previously.
When going on a walk with Alfie, he makes sure to keep stuck by my side and nudges my hand to remind me he is there every once in a while, as if to me remind me he is a constant reassuring restful presence in my life.
Alanna Joyce
Reading and Rest
‘Rest’, an occupation that I found I have not been doing enough of it in college. During my time print making, I was able to think about my college life and how I did not give myself time to rest as I was always busy. The picture I chose to take inspiration from was something that once meant a lot to me and something I hope to incorporate back into my life. I decided to do a picture of a book, and a mug filled with a hot drink. Before college I was an avid reader and it was the main restorative activity that I would like to do. Reading made me feel relaxed, at ease and happy. It was something I could do anywhere and used it as a way to escape from the realities of the life. It made me forget the troubles of the real world and allowed me to focus on the beautiful lives and the happy endings that would happen in the book. When I would read, my life would be calm, my head quiet and I would feel so content. When I was creating this print of the book it made me realise how much I missed reading and inspired me to go home and pick up a book. I realised even though college is a busy time in my life I need to make time to include the activities that make me feel good.
Being able to use my old hobby as my inspiration in this print was very special to me. As the sessions went on, I soon found print making to be something I really enjoyed doing too. I was able to bring together two things I took pleasure in doing and participate in an activity that now meant so much to me.
While exploring the theme of ‘rest’ through doing the different prints, printmaking itself became something I could do to rest. I looked forward to it every week as it was a time that I could relax and focus on the task at hand. It became a way I could calm my mind and just focus on the artwork that I was about to create and is now a new activity that I can use to relax.
Eimear Keane
Resting with my Dog after a Long Day
Being given the ability to reflect on this day and the topic of rest through our printmaking sessions was important for me to evaluate the sources of rest in my life.
The piece I chose to showcase from our printmaking sessions shows me asleep on the couch with my dog after returning from a friend’s birthday party. I came home exhausted and ready to rest and my dog, Buddy, was ready for that too after his long day of lying on the couch.
This was what I would consider a perfect day where I got to see all my friends and got to complete the day by resting with my dog.
Barry Kelliher
The Awe of Peace
The search for rest is not easy. In today’s world everything is going ninety miles an hour non-stop. It seems you even have to look busy when you’re not busy just so people don’t call you lazy. The expectations on the modern persons shoulders are so heavy they can no longer even think about a break. For me, with college full-time, assignments and tasks, working two parttime jobs and trying to stay fit and healthy, finding any respite at all is a godsend. Luckily, I have my friends. Not only my friends but the sense of time they allow me to have to actually take in the beauty of what is around me. This is what I based my print off. The awe of the world. Nature’s beauty. Its’ rivers, valleys, mountains, and oceans. The true wonders of the world. Seeing the incredible spinning rock we are standing on in an infinitely expanding space can make me feel small, but when I have my friends there to share these experiences with, I feel oh so big. I have taken a giant leap in the next chapter of my life after completing my first college year in Occupational Therapy. Many things have changed in that space of time, but my friends have been there every step of the way. Among all the variables, they were the one constant. I didn’t believe him at the time, but my secondary school viceprincipal told us that “the friends you meet in school are the friends you will have for life”.
Let’s hope for peace’s sake this continues to be true. I realised my friends were my source of rest when I found myself frustrated. Frustrated with college, work, or any other part of my life. I would call my friends, and we would go on a drive to anywhere else but where I was right then.
I get to relax and speak about what has been annoying me and then I can forget about it. Lift the weight off my shoulders and leave it in the past. Embrace the tranquility of the present, where my worries are in the past and my future worries are unknown. I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes of all time from one of my favourite movies of all time.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” - Master Oogway.
Eimear Kelly
One Paw at a Time
The theme for our creative occupations OT1005 module this year was “Rest”. When I was thinking of the theme, I looked at restorative occupations in my life, which included walking my dogs and being by the sea, titling it “one paw at a time”, to remind me to take care of myself and my health.
I have two dogs named Scruffy and Susie. Scruffy and Susie have always brought a sense of tranquility and restoration to my life, because of their calm demeanors. They’re both quiet dogs and love to just be around people, and when I think of the theme “Rest”, they bring a smile to my face and let me forget about the tough moments in life just by looking at their smiling faces.
I have always found walking my dogs a calming activity, whenever I need a break, they will both be waiting for me to bring them out for a walk no matter rain or shine. My favourite place to walk my dogs is the beach, and although I can't bring them very often, it makes beach walks with them that bit more special when I do.
After moving to college, it has been hard without them there, knowing they're not sitting beside me waiting to go for walks, but it makes going home at weekends easy because they come bounding over to me, all ready for our next adventure.
I decided to use one paw print from both of them to include them both in the print, Scruffy’s paw is the bigger of the two and using the colour blue I displayed the ocean.
The ocean holds a special feeling for me. Every year for as long as I can remember, on my birthday I take a sunrise dip with family and friends, to wash away any fears or worries and instead just relax. I chose to include the ocean in my print as I have always found it to produce a sense of rejuvenation and restoration in my life, that when I'm there there’s no need to be anything but me.
Emma Lynch
Multidimensional Rest
The theme allocated to our printmaking experience was rest and I chose to focus on yoga. Yoga is a restorative activity that encompasses many different forms of rest at once; mental, physical and spiritual. When I practice yoga I play classical music in the background, which adds creative rest to the experience. Yoga is a powerful occupation in my life, when I engage in the activity, I feel rejuvenated, energised and calm.
As a person who tends to disregard rest in my life, I find it extremely difficult to restore myself mentally. I find physical rest to be straight forward, but I struggle to escape from my thoughts. Engaging in yoga requires focus and concentration, which ultimately forces me to stop overthinking. I began practicing yoga during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time of pressure, uncertainty and stress. I was meant to have been sitting my Junior Cycle exams that year and I was studying for them during isolation, with no knowledge of when, where or if I would sit these exams. I missed my regular dance classes that were cancelled because of lockdown, so I decided that trying yoga classes online would act as a substitute. I fell in love with yoga from that day and I practice it religiously now. Practicing yoga has helped me through the most stressful periods of my life; my Leaving Certificate exams and transitioning to university. Having an occupation that allows me to rest mentally, physically, spiritually and creatively has enriched my life as it reduces my stress levels, exposes me to fun occupations and restores my energy levels. I am grateful that I began practicing yoga as it has restored me in many ways throughout the years, it was only natural for me to choose yoga as my project.
Grainne Mahony
A Restful Moment
At the end of the six weeks of print making I found it extremely difficult to identify one particular print that was my favourite I wanted to choose a print that best identified with our chosen theme of rest. I also wanted to choose my most successful print as I was aware that it would be on display in the gallery for everyone to see.
After much deliberation and getting the opinions of my peers I went a different route from most and chose the very first print I produced on week one. The print I chose was of a lady relaxing in a café, enjoying a coffee. Behind her is a large window where you can see the sun shining in on her. I feel like this image sums me up perfectly. My idea of a perfect morning is exactly what this image shows. A coffee in one hand, a book in the other and the sun shining.
To me this is when I am most at rest and everything feels like it is going to work out That is why I decided to display this print. Even though it is not perfect and there are a couple of blemishes that is ok. That’s life!
Abby Murphy
The Importance of Technology-free Rest
Sometimes when we are informed of our inherent need to ‘rest’ by modern media, it can seem almost like a chore, another thing to add to our never-ending to-do list. As you can see, this piece I have created depicts a woman sleeping, with a sense of calm and peacefulness emanating from her. This piece is a print and was produced by the process of printmaking. This particular type of printmaking involved scratching into a plastic matrix using appropriate tools, covering this matrix with ink, and then putting it through the printmaker to create the finished piece.
The theme for this exhibition is ‘rest’. This concept has begun to dominate the media in recent times, with more emphasis than ever being placed on each individual’s need to take time to rest, relax and sleep.
However, sometimes when we are informed of our need to rest and sleep it can be unclear about how to actually go about improving our quality of sleep. Many people then choose to allocate time to rest and sleep, perhaps with a particular bedtime each day, but then do not spend that time actually resting and allowing their minds and bodies to recharge.
In today’s modern technological world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to completely relax and sleep due to the overwhelming presence of devices such as phones, smart watches, televisions and tablets.
As evident in this image, there are no phones or other technological devices present. I would like to imagine that this woman has decided to engage in meaningful sleep, without the distraction of her phone, by leaving it outside of her bedroom. I hope that this piece could inspire others to try to go to sleep without the distraction of their phones, by leaving it outside the door. I know many people who choose to sleep with their phone on next to them each night, and as a result, wake up multiple times to check it each night. In my opinion, a constantly pinging phone and a screen lighting up is simply not conducive to a good sleep. Implementing the habit of leaving your phone outside will hopefully initiate better sleeping patterns.
I hope this piece highlights to you how beneficial rest and sleep is something that we can all just do, with minimal effort or planning required. As sleep is often the easiest way for us to rest and recharge, it is important that we allow ourselves to properly and meaningfully engage with it, without the distractions of technology. Although most people are aware of the importance of sleep, many people still do not get the necessary quality of sleep to enable them to function to the best of their ability the next morning and throughout the following day. I hope this piece will inspire everyone to examine their own sleep patterns and motivate you to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you get both the correct amount and quality of sleep at night, without the distraction of mobile phones to allow you to succeed during the day!
Leah Murphy Eternal Rest
This print represents my grandad. When we were given the theme of rest, he was the first person I thought of.
He became a very sleepy man into his old age and after his dementia diagnosis. He could sleep at the dinner table, on the couch, and in the car. When he slept it was like he was transported to a serene world free from the worries and confusion of his condition.
Even though his memories were fading, there was a sense of comfort in knowing that he could find solace in his dreams. I liked to imagine him dreaming of the things he once loved, GAA, horse racing, family, and farming.
When he passed, I believed he was dreaming forever now, with no more confusion or darkness. I imagined he was resting eternally. I may have been called naive at the time, but I found comfort in this idea.
Mikaela Murphy
Restful Ocean
The theme for this year’s exhibition is “Rest”. My chosen piece for this exhibition is a monotype print, depicting the mysterious depths of the ocean and its vibrant marine life, reflects my affinity for the sea.
I've always found solace in observing sea life, whether it's through the glass walls of aquariums or through documentaries. There's something inherently tranquil about the underwater world that resonates with me. The focal point of my print is the whale shark, inspired by my unforgettable encounter with these gentle giants off the coast of Oslob in the Philippines. Despite my initial worries, swimming alongside these magnificent creatures turned out to be a transformative experience. They were surprisingly friendly and peaceful. Their peaceful presence left me feeling rejuvenated and alive, after swimming with the whale sharks I felt energized and that my energy had been restored.
I've come to realize that my energy is replenished not by routine, but by embracing new and unique experiences such as this.
Nolisi Ncube
Bed
For my final project, I selected the topic of beds. I associate beds with the concept of rest. When I see a bed, it immediately brings to mind the idea of relaxation and rejuvenation. Beds are where we sleep and find rest during the night and day.
Additionally, I use my bed as a comfortable spot to watch films and unwind. It is also where I apply facemasks and sit to relax. When my friends visit me, we often gather in my bed to chat and find solace.
Lastly, I often lie in bed, scrolling through my phone, listening to music, or calling a friend, and this often brings me to a restful state.
Saoirse Ni Chonaill
Pooh Sticks
When I thought of the theme ‘rest’, I had stereotypical ideas of what rest looked like in my life such as sleep or sitting down. However, as the printmaking sessions progressed, I gained a deeper understanding of what rest meant to me. I chose my piece as it encapsulated many types of rest in my life.
I thought of the idea while stood on a bridge in my local woodland, throwing sticks into the river flowing underneath. This was a game from my childhood dubbed ‘Pooh Sticks’, as it was played by Winnie the Pooh in the Winnie the Pooh books I read before bed at nighttime.
I felt somewhat at peace in this moment, with the sound of the river and the birds in the background and feeling the gentle breeze on my face. It hit me then that an art piece depicting this situation was what I wanted to produce.
It would capture my feeling of rest while surrounded by nature and my natural woods. The feeling of restfulness while engaging with activities I loved when I was young would also be seen, which was very important to me.
I believe childhood is one of the most restful periods of a person’s life. There is an absence of sustained stress, worry, and consequences allowing children to feel light and as though nothing truly matters. There is nothing more restful than this feeling.
Additionally, the Winnie the Pooh element of my piece references the act of reading and cultivating my imagination as a restful activity I enjoy in my everyday life. There is an element of escapism associated with this activity, and the ability to forget about current anxieties in my life while spending time in an imaginary world.
There is an aspect of escape involved with this entire piece, as that is what rest is in a way. Switching off from the world around you and focusing your attention elsewhere.
Eoin O’Ceallaigh
Tanzanian Night
When people think of rest the first image that pops into their head is most likely not of a mountain. However, during the summer of 2022, I had the privilege to climb the tallest lone standing mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro.
Although during the day we experienced long hours of marching where we seemed to make no progress, when the night fell the experience completely changed. The clouds fell below us and the night sky was illuminated with billions and billions of stars.
We would sit at our camp and gaze at this sky every night for a week in pure amazement as we knew we would never see anything quite like it again. I never felt such a physically and mentally restorative experience as I did during those nights on the mountain.
Chloe O’Connor
An Ode to ‘Puss’
The theme chosen for this year’s printmaking exhibition was ‘Rest’, I struggled with the concept of this theme when it was first presented to us. I pondered as to what the true meaning of the word meant to me, other than an image of me splayed across the couch watching the television. In our printmaking sessions twice a week, I reflected on moments when my body and mind felt truly at rest. In these moments I found myself thinking of our house cat who had passed away in January, the cat belonged to two friends, and I was relatively indifferent towards her. As a result of being the only housemate attending
University, I found myself spending countless hours at home alone with her. During those stressful hours of writing assignments and pushing to submit them before the deadline, it was Puss who lay next to me on the couch sleeping alongside me, silently purring while nuzzling her head into my leg. I would often stop writing midsentence to gaze down upon her and manage to crack a smile, she always seemed to be in total serenity while she rested next to me. Oh to be a cat, I would think as I battled on to finalize my assignment. She became my furry companion and silent cheerleader and was with me for the majority of assignment submissions, and I found myself less stressed in the early hours of the morning writing with her alongside me. Puss passed away on the first of January, and while I was sad for my friends I had not considered that the cat had a deep meaningful impact on me at all, except that I would no longer have to listen to pestering meows for a treat. It wasn’t until the middle of January, again that I found myself typing until the late hours to submit another assignment and realised I was filled with more anxiety than ever for this particular one than any other before. I did not have my companion, my silent cheerleader, purring alongside me with every word I typed. In my moments of reflection during printmaking, I realised that the cat's peaceful demeanor influenced my emotional state during these stressful moments. The company of Puss instilled not only a sense of calm but enjoyment in doing my work. I felt my mind and body ease from the warmth of puss alongside me, and as a result felt fully at rest. I now reside my assignment completion to the library, no longer fully at rest but content in knowing that Puss is.
Lei O’Donoghue
Writing Home
My chosen print for this year’s exhibition is a depiction of a stamped postcard entitled ‘Writing Home’.
When considering this year’s theme of ‘Rest’, I reflected on times in my life when I felt truly rested. What did it feel like?
I thought back to my childhood growing up in Cork City; obedient to bus timetables, early morning traffic and sounds of construction. Was that rest?
I found myself repeatedly thinking back to the summer I spent at Irish College in the little village of Ballybunion. I had I trekked out to ‘the sticks’ with just a cúpla focal. The days were jam packed with lessons, sports, sea-swimming, singsongs and céilís. There was never a dull moment with sights of dolphins and beach racing.
I was forced to communicate with ‘the outside world’ by post. I traded my iPhone for postcards. I went to bed each night exhausted, with a full belly and the curtains left open so I could wake up to the sunrise. This was rest to me. The isolated village of Ballybunion provided a recluse from busy city life. I found an escape from social media, technology and the pressures of being fourteen years old.
My muscles ached from dancing, my bones sore from running and eyes were heavy with tiredness. But my heart was happy, my mind was clear, and my soul was rested.
Niamh O’Leary Hands of Peace
The theme for this year's art exhibition is ‘Rest today, there is tomorrow’. For this theme I choose to focus on the restorative activities that allow me to relax and enjoy time to myself.
At first, I looked at the different hobbies I engage in to relax. From a young age I have tried out just about any creative hobby you can imagine. From baking to crochet to drawing and many many more. Although I may not be the best at any one of them, they each taught me a new skill that I take with me during every aspect of my life.
It was during the time spent exploring the theme that I had the sudden realisation that I have always felt most restored when engaging in activities that involve my hands. The repetitive nature of creating something with my hands gave me the chance to reconnect with myself and as time passed, all unnecessary worries would slip away.
After recognising the impact that such activities have on me I knew my piece had to centre around hands. That is when ‘Hands of Peace’ first came to life. To create this piece I used the Monoprint style which involves covering the surface of acetate in ink and then carving the image into it with pen. This style varies from other printing techniques as only one unique image is created, much like drawing or painting.
Although the piece may not be as perfect as I would like it to be, during the process I learned to let go and just have fun with it and I am proud of the end result.
Aoife Ryan
Perched on a Teacup
I chose this print as my final print as it encompasses what I find to be the most restful aspects of my life: a cup of tea and nature. It shows a little bird perched on top of a teacup. This was the last print that I made where we used monoprint. I really liked this printing technique as we drew it by hand, and it allowed for a lot of fluidity and expression.
Before these printmaking sessions, I felt I had no creativity and never thought I could create something by hand. However, after the sessions, I now understand that everyone has the potential to be creative.
Rest is a concept that is subjective for everyone, it does not just mean sleep. For me, sipping on a cup of tea is restful. Whether I am drinking my cup of tea before work or while chatting with my family, I see it as a moment of calm and relaxation.
Being out in nature is also restful for me. The bird on the cup symbolizes nature. I love being outside in the fresh air, listening to the sound of the birds chirping and taking in the greenery. When I feel overwhelmed, I find nature to be an escape where I can relax and destress.
My chosen print combines both of these things and captures what is most restful in my life.
Faye Santry Flowers
I chose to create a print of flowers for my piece. Flowers are a key part of nature, and nature is a pivotal part of restoration in my eyes
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, it has always been a natural instinct of mine to go for a walk to clear my head. I feel that reconnecting with nature really allows me to reset my mind and take some time alone for myself, and away from my phone. When I go on these walks I always try to really take in my surroundings and notice the little things. Coincidently, almost always the first thing I seem to spot each time is a small patch of flowers on the grass outside my house.
At first, they caught my eye because of their vibrant red colour, however it is a known fact that different flowers are often seen to be symbolic of something, and because of this I decided to include the poppies in this particular patch of flowers in my print. Poppies are best known for symbolising sleep and peace, which I feel perfectly ties into our theme of rest this year. Poppies also symbolize serenity and quiet, which are both key features of rest to me.
Just as flowers take time to bloom, we too need moments of stillness and restoration in our busy lives. Flowers teach us that rest is not a pause from life, but a part of it, allowing us to take time to rejuvenate and flourish. In the same way that flowers follow their own rhythms and cycles, we too must acknowledge our own need for rest and allow ourselves the time to do so.
By slowing down and embracing moments of peace and quiet, we can restore balance in our lives and regain that feeling of rest. The presence of flowers in nature, especially poppies, is always a reminder of the importance of rest and rejuvenation to me.
Lina Sattar
Comfort in a Foreign Place
After moving to a new country, I sought to find green spaces and areas of nature in my surroundings. Going on walks throughout my first months here helped ground me and familiarise and integrate myself into the new city.
Observing the everyday lives of people living in Cork and watching the natural day to day elements unfold felt like I was in between an outsider and someone who would soon make Cork their new home. Each time I discovered areas I would have never thought to look, I felt my need to explore every little side street.
Although I started to find my way around the city more and more, something I really felt was missing was nature the way I was used to it at home, especially parks. The common small patches of grass surrounded by fences didn’t feel like places that brought me any joy or rest as I was used to.
The transition hit me harder in the aspect of my direct physical surroundings than I had expected, so when I found a natural space by the river, as depicted in my printmaking piece, I felt like I could let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding.
Although it wasn’t the same as what I knew from home, it gave me a place to quiet my mind and experience rest in the comfort of nature, strengthening my sense of belonging in my new home.
© Cover Print: ‘Eternal Rest’ by Leah Murphy
Dr. Eithne Hunt Lecturer
e.hunt@ucc.ie
