The Clean Blue of Linen is a new photography project by Yvette Monahan, documenting the role of chemical-free flax from Mallon Farm in County Tyrone in local supply chains. Commissioned by We Feed The UK and exhibited at Belfast Exposed from 6 February to 22 March 2025, Yvette’s work forms part of a national storytelling campaign connecting photographers and poets with our most inspiring food producers, seeking to raise public awareness of positive solutions to climate change, wildlife recovery and social justice.
At the heart of The Clean Blue of Linen is the remarkable story of Mallon Farm in County Tyrone where flax farmers Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon are reviving chemical-free flax farming as part of a diverse, sustainable agricultural model. Their efforts breathe new life into Northern Ireland’s once world-renowned linen heritage, but their work is not solely a nod to heritage. It has been rejuvenating soil, waterways and wildlife as part of a shared endeavour to strengthen resilience in the Northern Irish food and farming system.
Growing a variety of crops as part of a rotation strengthens farmers’ resilience against ever-changing conditions, which has become more vital than ever in recent years. Farming for a diversity of needs, from food to fibre, even protected historic flax producers from the devastation of the potato famine.
Helen Keys said: “We started out because Irish linen was such a big piece of the heritage here, but we realised early on that the interest from people wasn’t just about the heritage but the fact that it was locally produced, sustainably produced, and could be part of a beneficial farming industry.”
Yvette Monahan’s evocative photography, commissioned by We Feed The UK, captures the beauty and significance of their work, showing how flax farming nurtures both the land and local communities.
Yvette reflects: “The most vital lesson from this project has been the undeniable power of personal passion in creating change. Helen and Charlie have transformed the land from a dairy farm into a biodiverse flax, food, and wildlife ecosystem. They have inspired a new generation of artists, designers, and makers and instilled in them a deep appreciation for flax as a natural resource, giving us hope for a sustainable future.”
Complementing the images is ‘The Opposite of Apocalypse’, a new poem by acclaimed Irish writer Abby Oliveira; an ode to flax farming’s potential to unite local communities and redefine what good farming looks like.
Growing a variety of crops as part of a rotation strengthens farmers’ resilience against ever-changing conditions, which has become more vital than ever in recent years. Farming for a diversity of needs, from food to fibre, even protected historic flax producers from the devastation of the potato famine.
The exhibition is also set to be featured in the Northern Ireland Science Festival, taking place between 12 – 23 February 2025.
KEY DATES
- Exhibition launch: Thursday 6 February 2025 as part of Late Night Art Belfast, featuring new live poetry from renowned Irish writer, Abby Oliveira
- Panel discussion: Saturday 8 February 2025 at 2pm, featuring flax farmers Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon of Mallon Farm, Kerry Melville from Nourish NI and co-chair of Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership, Gawain Morrison.
- Live Action Linen: Friday 14 February at 10am and 2pm, a unique and interactive NI Science Festival event. See the linen making process will be brought to life as farmers and textile makers come together to process flax plants right through to textile stage.