Kolaiti, Christina and O'Donnell, Lucy (2024) Reflections on Lucy O'Donnell's 'our little earthbound tales' and the art of holding a likeness. In: O'Donnell, Lucy, (ed.) Our little earth bound tales. D.C. Thomson

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Abstract

O’Donnell’s self-portrait miniature collages, made from comic books found in a box of childhood keepsakes, contemplate memories of uncertainty, pregnancy without birth and un-becoming.

Drawing upon 16th to 19th century portrait miniature collections held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, O'Donnell's work reminds us of the keepsake uniqueness of the tactile physical likeness.

our little earthbound tales positions such haptic uncertainties as the art of holding. Made in a deliberately understated size that fits in the palm of a hand ‘to be held and viewed closely’i, O’Donnell’s self-portraits speculate on the open-ended narrative of maternal attachmentii. Such playful encounters invite narratives of un-becoming to be held and caressed – just like mothers hold their children's hands – and to be shared with others, fostering a ‘lasting psychological connectedness between human beings’.

Item Type:	Book Section
Status:	Published
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR > N4390-5098 Exhibitions N Fine Arts > NC Drawing Design Illustration T Technology > TR Photography
School/Department:	School of the Arts
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11424

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