Seen to Be Heard: Beyond the Frame
Seen to Be Heard: Beyond the Frame – A Powerful Exploration of Advocacy through Art
The Courthouse Gallery & Studios (CHG&S) is proud to present Seen to Be Heard: Beyond the Frame, a deeply moving exhibition by Belfast-based photographer Jennifer Willis, with a newly commissioned artistic response by Westmeath-based artist Celine Sheridan. Running from September 28th to October 26th, 2024, this edition of the exhibition expands upon the powerful work first shown at Belfast Exposed in 2022, which brought the often-overlooked stories of women living with Secondary Breast Cancer into the public eye.
Seen to Be Heard began as a personal project in 2021 when Jennifer Willis set out to document the cancer journey of her friend Cheryl. What began as an intimate and compassionate act of support grew into a wider project, creating a platform for 23 women living with Secondary Breast Cancer. Through poignant portraits and a 45-minute testimonial film, these women—united by their incurable diagnosis—share their personal experiences, confronting the physical and emotional toll of their disease and the gaps in healthcare services.
This exhibition has had a significant impact, not only as an artistic work but as a catalyst for change. In Northern Ireland, Seen to Be Heard has spurred advocacy for improved Secondary Breast Cancer care, including the successful lobbying for a clinical audit and greater access to trials, treatments, and specialist nurses. By bringing these women’s voices to light, Seen to Be Heard is both a personal testimony and a powerful call to action.
Jennifer Willis: Capturing Resilience through Photography
Jennifer Willis, a multi-award-winning photographer, began her photographic journey as a personal response to illness. Over time, she has honed her ability to use photography as a tool for storytelling, often focusing on the narratives of her subjects, from sports to portraiture. With Seen to Be Heard, her work has reached a new level of emotional depth. Working with the women long before even lifting the camera, Willis created a safe, intimate space where they could be themselves, revealing their vulnerabilities, strengths, and their lived realities of living with Secondary Breast Cancer.
The portraits are raw, powerful, yet deeply sensitive—each one a testament to the individual’s strength and resilience. Willis deliberately chose a soft, neutral colour palette and a focus on natural light, ensuring the images conveyed a sense of calm while allowing the women’s stories to shine through. Her photography goes beyond documenting a moment in time; it encapsulates the emotional weight of each woman's experience.
First exhibited in Belfast Exposed Studio Gallery in 2022, the exhibition was a groundbreaking work of artistry and activism, showcasing the voices of women who have been historically underrepresented in cancer care advocacy. Willis's photographs, combined with the emotional testimonies in the accompanying film, created an unflinching, empathetic portrayal of what it means to live with Secondary Breast Cancer.
Expanding the Frame: Celine Sheridan’s Sculptural Response
For this edition of Seen to Be Heard at the Courthouse Gallery, artist Celine Sheridan has been commissioned to create a new series of works that respond to Willis’s powerful portraits. Sheridan, whose work is hyper-cognizant of body forms, movement, and negative space, explores the physicality of the female body in a poetic, psychological, and political way. Her contribution, The Pitiful Cradling of the Poor Darling, is an evocative sculptural installation made from ceramic, foam, and Irish linen, incorporating references to biology.
Inspired by the field of Quantum Biology and the research of Robert O. Becker on salamander limb regeneration, Sheridan’s work draws parallels between the body’s regenerative processes and the strength of the women in Willis’s photographs. The central figure in her sculpture—a salamander cradled by a female hand, resting on a foam mattress in the shape of a female torso with absent breasts—reflects both the physical loss and the enduring spirit of women undergoing cancer treatment. The installation stands as a metaphor for resilience, transformation, and healing, aligning with the themes of survival and advocacy present in Willis’s work.
The Origins of Seen to Be Heard
The original exhibition at Belfast Exposed was more than just a gallery show; it became a movement. Through both media attention and direct engagement with political and cultural stakeholders, Seen to Be Heard called for systemic changes in cancer care across Northern Ireland. The campaign has already resulted in tangible progress, including a pledge from Cancer Focus NI to fund a Secondary Breast Cancer audit. This audit will ensure that the experiences of these women are documented and used to inform future policies, treatments, and patient care strategies.
As Professor Mark Lawler, a leading voice in cancer research, remarked: “This beautiful but thought-provoking and challenging exhibition captures the reality of living with cancer, and we need to make sure their message resonates so that there are clear actions on addressing the challenges of Secondary Breast Cancer.” This sentiment has echoed through each showing of the exhibition, from Belfast to Dublin, and now in Ennistymon, Clare.
A Dual Legacy: Personal and Public Impact
For many of the women involved, Seen to Be Heard serves as both a public platform and a deeply personal legacy. The portraits and film are a way of leaving something behind—something that speaks not only to their friends and families but also to the broader public. It is a lasting testimony to their strength and the ongoing fight for better healthcare, equality, and representation for those living with Secondary Breast Cancer.
Event Details and Concurrent Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: September 28th – October 26th, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, September 28th, 7:00 PM
Location: Main Gallery, Courthouse Gallery & Studios, Ennistymon
We invite visitors to also explore All Alone by Ennistymon resident and filmmaker Anne Maree Barry, running concurrently in the Red Couch Space. Barry’s film work, which mixes archival footage and original music, offers a contemplative reflection on rural loneliness and connection.
References
Jennifer Willis Photography – Seen to Be Heard Project
More information on the original project and exhibition can be found at:
https://jenniferwillisphotography.com/seen-to-be-heard
Belfast Exposed – Seen to Be Heard Exhibition (April 2022)
Details from the original exhibition at Belfast Exposed, including its role in advocacy and the impact it has had on cancer care:
https://www.belfastexposed.org/exhibitions/seen-to-be-heard/
YouTube – Seen to Be Heard Video by Belfast Exposed
Watch the testimonial video and learn more about the exhibition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yOlRF__gWk
Cancer Focus NI – Advocacy through Art
Information on the audit and the impact of Seen to Be Heard on cancer care in Northern Ireland:
Certain descriptions and information have been adapted from the original Seen to Be Heard exhibition materials, as featured at Belfast Exposed and Jennifer Willis Photography.
