GradEx
Welcome to my GradEx Exhibition!
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Hello and thank you for attending GradEx this year! My name is Éirinn Humphries AKA Meauraa. I am an illustration student at OCADU graduating this year. I have a fascination with mythology and classical art and I believe this to influence my practice in how I compose and create my works. I hope you enjoy my exhibition and the rest of your time at the show.
Éirinn
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My thesis body of work, Mythical Motions, is about Celtic mythological creatures and how they can be imagined to represent queer identities and experiences. The significance of this body of work is to show both how societies views on mythological creatures in the past and their views on queer people in the present can in some ways be comparable, and how queer people's own internal emotions may also in some ways relate to those of myths- how often the monstrous or feared are simply those that are misunderstood, how sometimes being different can make one feel like a monster, for better or for worse. My work is intended to evoke not only the complex parts of moving through life as a queer individual, but also the feelings of levity and self expression to be found.
This work is relevant for the world we currently live in, with LGBT+ rights under threat in the USA and non-existent in many parts of the world. At this time, empathy and community are critical to bind us as humans together. Creating a body of work that turns what may once have been read as frightening into something relatable and worthy of empathy reframes how people think about what they deem unacceptable. While a minor and relatively low-impact creation in the face of bigotry, being seen and seeing is a goal I am passionate about and hope to see more of in the world.
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GradEx is an exhibition hosted by OCADU annually that exhibits the work of the graduating class from their last year at OCADU. Many students use GradEx as an opportunity to show of their thesis pieces that they have spent the entirety of their last school year creating.
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Thank you for your interest in my work! If you would like to inquire more about my practice, buying my work, or working together, you can send me an email at Meauraas.business@gmail.com , or visit my contact page to send me a message.
Selkie as gender dysphoria
Selkies are creatures who appear as seals, but by removing their cloak, they can turn into what appears to be a human woman. Without their cloak, however, they cannot turn back into a seal and are therefore trapped in a body on land. In many myths involving selkies, their cloaks are stolen from them, trapping them in a body which forever longs to return to the sea. This is reminiscent of gender dysphoria, the feeling of being in the wrong body and struggling through difficulties to try and become yourself.
Leanan sídhe as toxic relationships
Leanan sídhe as toxic relationships depicts how some queer people will stay in toxic relationships for fear of not finding acceptance elsewhere. The leanan sídhe provides inspiration and creativity to their victims, but in return, she will slowly drain their life until there’s nothing left. This relates to the queer experience of being in a relationship with someone one loves, deriving inspiration and affection from them while putting up with the draining toxicity of their parasitic behaviour.
Sluagh as depression and self-hatred
Sluagh are angry souls that are forever trapped in limbo, unable to pass on to heaven or hell. Their existence seen through a queer lens can be compared to the feeling of not being welcome anywhere, neither in queer or heterosexual spaces, and the anger and depression that stems from those feelings of isolation.
Púca as gender fluidity
Púca are capable of turning into whatever they wish, flowing between humanoid, animal, and mixtures of both. This can be interpreted similarly to the fluidity of gender, expressions changing over time or even over moments, and the joy and beauty that can be found in it.
Prints are available for purchase from the GradEx shop!
Abhartach As internalized homophobia
Abhartach are vampire-like beings, and, historically, vampires have often been used as symbolism for queerness because of their internal hatred of what they are and what they must do in order to live, seeing themselves as other- a monster. This can be related to those who hate their queerness, but at the same time, can do nothing to change what they are.
tree dryads as heteronormativity and denying oneself
In Celtic mythology, tree dryads are often taken as brides by men, stolen from their forest homes and robbed of choice in the matter. Often, though, they are depicted as accepting of their fate, regardless of the desire to part from it. Through a queer lens, this can be seen as akin to lesbians marrying men to conform to a heteronormative society.
Non-Thesis exhibited work
Assorted comic zine
A zine containing four separate short comics written and illustrated by myself made for a graphic novel course.
Copies available for purchase from the GradEx shop!
Deaths-head hawkmoth
A symbol for death, hiding in the darkness until encountering a sliver of light, the deaths-head hawkmoth contrasts the horror of mortality and the beauty of nature. This painting was done for an illustrative painting course.
Contact me
Contact me
meauraas.business@gmail.com