Launch of A Story of Healing through Art: ‘Stories from My Kitchen Table’ Exhibition

3rd December 2024

Exhibition runs from December 3rd – December 31st 2024 at St. Vincent’s University Hospital

St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH)  is proud to host ‘Stories from My Kitchen Table’, a deeply moving and personal photographic exhibition by acclaimed Irish photographer and poet, Liza Cauldwell. This intimate and transformative collection was unveiled today, 3rd December in the Atrium on the 1st floor of the hospital and will run until the December 31st, 2024.

While navigating breast cancer, Liza began capturing images of flowers during her treatment as a way of processing her diagnosis and the journey to recovery. Her work speaks to the delicate strength of life, inviting viewers to pause and connect with its beauty. The exhibition offers a poignant reflection on illness, resilience and the healing power of creativity.

“Initially, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my treatment commenced in the spring. It would take twelve months to complete the plan. I was advised to view each part of the treatment as a separate event within a whole process. It felt like a relay, the baton being passed cleanly from one team member to the next,” Liza shares. “And yet, a moment of photographing nature, a flower, seemed to connect with the delicate strength of life, if even just for a second.”

This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between Liza and arts consultant Gráinne Millar, both of whom were treated for breast cancer at St. Vincent’s University Hospital. It is a celebration of art’s ability to comfort and uplift those navigating the challenges of illness. Gráinne, a leader in arts and cultural management and the visionary behind the highly successful Culture Night project, joined forces with Liza to create opportunities that make art accessible and deeply meaningful for everyone.

Opening the exhibition, Professor Janice Walshe, Consultant Oncologist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, said: “Liza’s work is an extraordinary example how art can bring comfort, meaning and perspective to the journey of illness and recovery. At St. Vincent’s, we are committed to providing care that goes beyond medicine, recognising and supporting the emotional and psychological challenges our patients face. This exhibition celebrates the strength of the human spirit, inspiring and reminding us to see the beauty and resilience that life holds, even in its most challenging moments.”

David Fennelly, Clinical Director for Cancer Care at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, added:
“Cancer touches the lives of so many people in Ireland, whether directly or through loved ones. At St. Vincent’s University Hospital, we understand the importance of supporting patients and families beyond their medical care. Liza’s photographs beautifully capture the beauty and strength that patients can encounter along the way. This exhibition is a testament to the transformative power of creativity, inspiring hope and providing comfort to patients, staff and visitors alike.”

Exhibition Details

• Dates: December 3rd – 31st, 2024
• Location: The Atrium, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4
• Admission: Free and open to the public

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Jennie Cotter, Corporate Communications Manager, St. Vincent’s University Hospital
  jcotter@svhg.ie
• Gráinne Millar, Arts Consultant, GM Innovations
  grainne@gminnovations.ie | +353 86 2300860

Join us in celebrating this remarkable journey of art and healing.

Notes to the editor:

About the artist

Liza is an Irish photographer and poet. Her interests centre on the investigation of the minutiae of day-to-day living and how this is reflected in both the personal and communal environment. Through the mediums of photography and writing Liza< responds to narratives that she gathers and interprets.

Liza has exhibited in group and solo shows in Ireland, Europe and the U.S.A.  Her solo exhibits include:

• ‘Rince na hEireann’ at Inspirational Arts as part of the inaugural PhotoIreland festival in Dublin and within a group show at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.
• The Series ‘TV’ was shown at L’emoi de la Photo w/ Association Lumen, Orleans, France.
• ‘Shoppers’ an exploration of everyday places, was exhibited at Jam, in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK.
• ‘A Certain Silence’ was exhibited at The Drawing Project, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. Following on from this, aspects of ‘A Certain Silence’ were shown in the group show ‘Home’ at ‘The Center for Fine Art Photography’, Colorado, USA.

She is part of the ‘Chasing Shadows’ group that exhibited in a number of group shows in Dublin and the UK.  Her

Liza also contributed to ‘Mass Isolation’ an online group exhibition by Photo Museum Ireland, which was followed by a publication of in 2021.

Liza has taught photography at third level and has a Master’s Degree in Photography, University College Falmouth.

Please email lizacauldwellstudio@gmail.com for further information.