Virgin Shroud 1993

Curator: Dorothy Cross's "Virgin Shroud" presents us with arresting imagery. What’s your immediate reaction? Editor: A spectral presence. The use of material creates a chilling effect. What are we looking at precisely? Curator: Cross combines a cowhide with horns and a wedding dress. The hide drapes over the dress, obscuring it. Editor: Cows, of course, have strong associations with Ireland. I wonder if the artist is invoking Irish identity and maybe critiquing the Catholic Church’s influence on it? Curator: Interesting point. The labor involved in tanning the hide, the social context of the wedding dress—it's a powerful intersection of traditional craft and high art. Editor: And the horns, subtly phallic, disrupt the virginity implied by the title. The stark contrast between the hide's texture and the dress’s sheen only heightens the tension. Curator: Absolutely. This piece definitely challenges conventional notions of purity and femininity through its jarring use of materials and their cultural weight. Editor: Indeed. A memorable piece, leaving us to contemplate the collision of rural tradition and societal expectations.