Palimpsest

Palimpsest is a film artwork by Joanna Hopkins based on the female body, natural plant dyes, our interactions with place, and the change of use of landscape over time. The artwork follows research and a series of natural plant dyes created across two public workshops in Mayo. Each woman represents an existing Mayo Sheela na gig. They wear a plant dyed tracksuit decorated with layered leaf motifs. The colours have been created from wild lichens, the leaves of Hawthorn, oak leaves from the Bangor Trail, and yellow from the toxic and invasive Rhododendron found across Nephin National Park. 

Lios na Gaoithe, the windy fort, is one of the best preserved ring forts in Nephin National Park. It has undergone multiple uses over time, both as a burial ground and a dwelling place. It now lies gently in the midst of the park, a soft space in the gap between the trees of planted conifers. A single hawthorn is rooted at its entrance. The work was filmed on the morning of the Winter Solstice, 21st December 2025. Special thanks to Wild Nephin National Park and the NPWS for access to Lios Na Gaoithe. 

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Special Thanks to Kay Goonan of Mount Jubilee for sharing the tradition of  'Crotal' dye making from local lichens.

Special thanks to NPWS Ranger Doireann for info on both native and no native, invasive plants in the Mayo region.  

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Wilderland is a recipient of the Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme. It is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The fund supports creative, cultural and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empower citizens to make meaningful behavioural transformations. 

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