Deirdre of Sorrows
Deirdre of Sorrows draws from a Celtic legend of the same title that describes a tragic love story between Deirdre and her husband Naosis. I also have drawn from designs in Celtic Pattern:Visual rhythms of the ancient mind in the Decker Library as an essential, conceptual element to the book.
The disks in the lower portion of the book depict two hands reaching for each other across a tangle of vines. This is in reference to the ending of the legend in which the two evergreen trees growing on top of Deirdre and Naosis’s respective graves. No matter how many times these trees were cut down, they always grew towards each other.
Deirdre of Sorrows is a tragic story, but there is never a moment when the lovers fail. Even when Uisnech and his brothers die they do so in service to protect Deirdre. I hope to create a sense of tranquility and resolution for the audience that mirrors
the completeness of the legend itself.
Deirdre of Sorrows measures approximately 2.25" x 2.25" x 1" and was completed in
April of 2016.
Text on cards is the song included as apart of the telling of the legend. It reads as follows:
I had a dream O Naosis, son of Uisnech,
A dream for you to read,
On the warm south wind flew three white doves,
Soaring over the sea,
Bearing in their beaks what every child loves,
Sweet nectar from the humble bee,
I had a dream O Naosis, son of Uisnech,
A dream for you to read,
On the warm south wind flew three grey birds,
Soaring across the sea,
Bearing in their beaks three bloody torques*
That meant the world to me,
Naosis:
I read only the dreams on the fearful night,
In the morning they fade to dust, Deirde,
In the morning they fade away.
*necklace warriors wore to battle
On the back of the cards, Deirde and Naosis's story is illustrated, reading from right to left.
