Saolta Beo - Lived Lives

Saolta Beo

21g: Gaoth Dobhair 2017

De réir oifigeach ón Phríomhoifig Staidrimh, bhí ar a lagadh 146 féinmharbh i gContae Dhún na nGall le deich mbliana anuas (2007-2016), a chomhdhéanann meánuimhir de 10/100,000 básanna sa bhliain de bharr féinmharbh. Go neamhoifigiúil, bhíothas den tuairim go mb’fhéidir go bhfuil níos mó ná 166 bás i gceist, le corradh agus 26 féinmharbh féideartha sa bhliain 2016, ag cur in iúl go mb’fhéidir go bhfuil an ráta féinmharaithe fíor i nDún na nGall san am i láthair níos airde ná 17/100,000, rud atá níos airde go suntasach ná an meán náisiúnta.

Is taiscéaladh sóisialta amharIc-ealaíona atá in 21g a cruthaíodh den chéad uair sa bhliain 2003 ar mhaithe le smaoineadh ar féinmharbh na bhfir óga in Éirinn sa bhliain sin. Glacann sé cuid mhór foirmeacha agus atriallta, agus tá sé déanta suas de stráicí léinte a cuireadh isteach go cnuasaitheach agus ag airdí éagsúla, agus gach ceann acu ag meá 21gram ar an mheán, rud a deir daoine áirithe gurb é sin meá mhiotasach anam an duine daonna. Cuireann sé é féin in oiriúint agus athmhúnlaíonn sé é féin do gach suíomh suiteála agus bíonn sé ina ábhar cómhráite, smaointeachais agus machnaimh.

In 21g Gaoth Dobhair 2017 tá níos mó ná 168 stráicí léinte, ag taispeáint na meastacháin oifigiúla de bhásanna Féinmharaithe Dhún na nGall le deich mbliana anuas (2006-2015), agus na meastacháin “neamhoifigiúla” de fhéinmharaithe i nDún na nGall le dhá bhliain anuas (2015 agus 2016). Bheireann na 146 stráicí bána de léinte, (121 fear, 25 ban) na “taifid oifigiúla” agus ag an am céanna bheireann an 22 stráice liath cuntas ar na meastacháin neamhoifigiúla reatha do 2015 agus 2016. Cé gurb é 16 bás sa bhliain 2015 an cuntas oifigiúil, meastar go neamhoifigiúil go raibh níos mó ná 27 bás féinmharaithe ann le linn an tréimhse seo. Is é an meastachán oifigiúil do 2016 ná 20 bás, agus, go “neamhoifigiúil”, meastar go raibh breis agus 26 bás féinmharaithe ann. Tá bliain an bháis fuaite ar gach coiléar léine.

A bhúiochas do thionscadal Saolta Beo a rinneadh cheana féin i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an Lucht Siúil (Lived Lives: A Pavee Perspective), Ionad Pavee 2015, http://www.livedlives.com/a-pavee-perspective.html, tá a fhios againn anois go bhfuil siad ionann le 10% de bhásanna féinmharaithe go náisiúnta, cé nach bhfuil an Lucht Siúil ach 1% den daonra go náisiúnta. I ndiaidh mian sainráite an Lucht Siúil  a bheith curtha chun tosaigh, “le hionadaíocht a bheith acu in Saolta Beo”, tugtar aitheantas do bhásanna féinmharaithe an Lucht Siúil i Saolta Beo, Gaoth Dobhair  2017 le rotha beag vaigín fuaite ar choiléar an léine.

Lived Lives

21g: Gaoth Dobhair 2017

According to official CSO there have been at least 146 suicide deaths recorded in County Donegal in the past decade (2007-2016), constituting an average of 10/100,000 suicide deaths per year. Unofficially, it has been suggested that there may be in excess of 166 deaths, with as many as 26 suicide deaths likely in 2016 suggesting the true current rate of suicide in Donegal may be in excess of 17/100,000, which is significantly above the national average.

21g is a visual arts social probe which was originally created in 2003 to reflect on young male suicide deaths officially recorded in Ireland in that year. It takes many forms and iterations, and consists of shirt fragments installed collectively and at various heights, and each weighing 21 grams on average, which some say is the mythical weight of the human soul. It adjusts and recasts to each installation site, and becomes a site of conversation, reflection and contemplation.

21g Gaoth Dobhair 2017 includes in excess of 168 shirt fragments, reflecting both the official estimates of Donegal Suicide deaths over the past decade (2006-2015), and  the “unofficial” assessments of Donegal suicide deaths for the last 2 years (2015 and 2016). 146 white shirt fragments, (121 males, 25 female) reflect “official records” while an additional 22 grey fragments reflect current unofficial estimates for 2015 and 2016. Whilst the official count for 2015 is 16 deaths, unofficially, it is suggested that there may be in excess of 27 suicide deaths during this period. The official estimate for 2016 is 20 deaths, whilst “unofficially”, it is suggested that there may have been in excess of 26 suicide deaths. The year of death is stitched into each shirt collar.

Through a previous Lived Lives project in collaboration with Travellers (Lived Lives: A Pavee Perspective), Pavee Point 2015, http://www.livedlives.com/a-pavee-perspective.html, we are now aware that even though Travellers account for 1% of the Irish population, they account for 10% of suicide deaths nationally. Following the express wish of the Travelling Community to be “represented in Lived Lives”, these Traveller suicide deaths are represented in Lived Lives, Gaoth Dobhair  2017 by a small wagon wheel symbol stitched to the shirt collar.