Languages in Art
In partnership with Scoil Aoife Community National School
February 21-22, 2025
@ Rua Red Art Centre, Tallaght
Free, no booking required
Inspired by Matisse’s cut-outs, Language in Art engaged young artists from two classes in a project that enhanced the expression of their mother tongues through artistic language. Together, these classes represented over 30 different languages.
Matisse’s cut-outs emphasised simplicity, directness, and freedom of expression. Using this technique, the project aimed to help young artists connect with and express their mother tongues through art while fostering awareness and curiosity about the rich multilingual context of their peers. They painted and explored the many ways colour can be expressed across different mother tongues. Using familiar objects from nature and everyday life, such as leaves, shells, cats, and glasses, we named them in all the languages spoken in the class. Participants then created their own pieces by combining shapes and words they had learned.
The project aimed to highlight the connection between language and visual aesthetics, bridging the visual and the verbal. Some parents actively participated in the workshops, either in person or by engaging with their children afterwards to learn more about their mother tongues, making this collaborative project even more special.
Meet the artist
Paola Invernizzi
Paola Invernizzi is an Italian visual artist based in Dublin. Having completed her studies in Arts and Health at the Brera Academy of Art in Milano, she has accumulated diverse experience across health and educational contexts Embracing a phenomenological approach alongside an array of techniques, Invernizzi facilitates the inner connection between individuals and various art forms. Her primary goal is to extend this connection to the broader community, thereby enriching the sense of belonging and the role of arts in fostering well-being. Since 2018, she has been working in Ireland, undertaking tailored initiatives in response to community needs, particularly focusing on arts and health, arts in education, and arts in early childhood. The Arts Council of Ireland awarded Invernizzi in 2020 with the Professional Development Award and in 2021 with the Agility Award in Arts Participation.
Currently, Invernizzi is actively involved in residencies at primary and secondary schools, while also expanding her knowledge and skills in early childhood education through experiences in school settings and collaborations with Mother Tongues.
She recently began working with Waterford Healing Arts, focusing on the psychiatric department, and an arts residency at Tallaght University Hospital.
Scoil Aoife
“Scoil Aoife Community National School in City West is a DEIS band 1 school with a very diverse school community. There are 27 languages represented in the school community. Since 2023 they have been using the arts to build an inclusive community that is culturally confident and promotes engagement with the parents.
Children in Scoil Aoife CNS participated in the Mother Tongues Festival in 2024 by working with artists from Cantieri Meticci (Italy) to create work that was exhibited at the festival. The children greatly benefited from this experience, which fostered both artistic expression and cultural awareness.
This year Scoil Aoife has hosted Language Awareness workshops, led by Mother Tongues artist Paola Invernizzi. Paola guided students in creative activities that promoted greater language awareness. The workshops have sparked excitement and curiosity among the students and parents about the different languages and cultures present in Scoil Aoife.“
Sinéad McLoughlin, Assistant Principal
Participants
3rd Class – Ms Niamh Dooley
Peter John, Esmé, Zara, Amina, Saanvi, Sofia, Aaron, Ashlan, Maimoona, Tanisi, Asiya, Aliza, Maanvi, Brody, Olivia, Tyler, Joshua, Maximillian, Sanjith, Palwasha, Yousef, Sarach, Emir, Aiden
3rd Class – Mr Ronan Murphy
Aisha, Adina, Elizabeth, Isabel, Advika, Carson, Kieran, Aurora, Gabriela, Ingrid, Jayson, Jeremiah, Alisa, Nivedh, Kajus, Eden, Alex, Gabriel, Kasper, Mihran, Sooryagayathri, Eva, Fernando, Paige.
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