Audrey Hamilton art installation comes to Kilkenny

Online retailer Very has unveiled the result of a collaboration with  pop-artist and fashion designer Audrey Hamilton to mark the launch of a six-figure three-year brand partnership between Very and Breast Cancer Ireland.

It highlights the upcoming Very Pink Run in the lead up to Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The unique and eye-catching art installation, commissioned by Very, showcases Audrey’s original artwork entitled 'Femme', a piece first created by Audrey in 2020, and sold in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland, when a close friend had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The installation includes activation (through a combination of 18ft high Vinyl banners, screens and light projection) at eight sites across the three cities, namely Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork - in which this year’s Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run will take place between September 30 and October 8.

The addition of light projections will add a stunning night-time element to the display. Each piece will also carry either a QR code or a URL leading people directly to the registration page for the upcoming Very Pink Run – thus helping to drive interest and registrations in this, the charity’s largest annual fundraising event. 

This now global event, newly sponsored by Very, has seen 78,000 participants from over 40 countries take part to date, raising over €6 million for breast cancer research into new treatments and therapies for the one in nine women in Ireland diagnosed with the disease each year.

The initiative will bring this beautiful artwork to wider audiences across Ireland, and in doing so, help to drive important stigma-free conversations regarding breast health, and breast awareness amongst women (and men) of all ages.

The initiative forms part of a wider Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run awareness and fundraising campaign.

Speaking about the Femme initiative, artist Audrey Hamilton said: “I’m so happy to be a part of this amazing partnership with Breast Cancer Ireland and Very for this year’s Very Pink Run. FEMME holds an exceptionally dear place in my heart and I hope by being a part of this collaboration that she will be a visual incentive for people to sign up to the run, but also a reminder of the importance of getting regular breast health check-ups. The incredible work by BCI is unrivalled, and now with the support of Very and the public, this will be accelerated. I would like to encourage everyone to take part and thank the incredible teams at BCI and Very for making this a reality”

Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland speaking at the launch said the organisation was delighted to be in a position this year to announce a new three-year brand partnership with Very.

“The funds raised through this year’s event allow us to continue our investment into key clinical trials that will help us change the treatment landscape positively for patients into the future," she said.

Registrations for the Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run are now open at www.verypinkrun.ie, and ongoing event updates are on Instagram @VeryPinkRun and @BreastCancerIre on Twitter using the hashtags #VeryPinkRun #ReasonToRun or #VeryPinkTribe

Confirmed locations for the installation:

- Parade Plaza, Butler House and McDonagh’s in Kilkenny.