Nature and Place commissions
Nature and Place is a new series of temporary works, taking inspiration from the forests of Ticknock, Tibradden, Barnaslingan, Carrickgollogan, Kilmashogue and Ballyedmonduff. The selected artists were awarded funding by dlr Arts Office to develop the first three projects between December 2023 and March 2024. Nature and Place was supported by Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership.
Ticknock: What's Going On? by artists Listen and Breathe was the fourth project to be commissioned, and was funded by Creative Ireland.
Download PDF of Martin Healy's Silva Here:
Silva PDF
Download Méadhbh O'Connor's sound files and Sky Walkers Map Here:
Sky Walkers Soundfiles
Ticknock: What's Going On? Listen and Breathe
Download Ticknock What's Going On
Martin Healy
Martin has captured a series of photographs while walking in and observing the six forests over a period of two months. The photographs were taken in a variety of locations and include wide-angle images of tree cover, close-ups of the various flora and fleeting images of birds. Healy describes the resulting images as “observations in the field” – a visual language for the thoughts and observations that occur while undertaking these walks. The resulting photographs have been compiled into a digital artist publication entitled Silva.
Martin Healy's work has been shown widely both nationally and internationally. International residencies include CCA, Andratx, Mallorca, 2022; Cove Park, Scotland, 2014; Temple Bar Gallery & Studios / HIAP-International Residency Exchange, Helsinki, 2010; Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, 2008; Artists’ Residency Programme at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, 2007; the International Studio Programme Residency at PS1 Contemporary Art Centre, New York, 2000/01.
Méadhbh O'Connor
This sonic artwork invites people to take a walk in the forests of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, stopping at key sites to listen and take a private moment to reflect. O’Connor’s work features six meditative poems written and recorded by the artist, which can be downloaded to phones or other listening devices free of charge, along with an artistic map of the forests. Sky Walkers conjures mysterious and fantastical vignettes based on the local landscape. The poems, which have historical, mythical, scientific and futuristic allusions, are set over ambient soundscapes. The sound files and map are available to download here for self-guided walks.
Méadhbh O’Connor is a visual artist whose work is composed of an extended exploration at the intersections of art, science, technology and environment. She uses sculptural and multimedia installation, image making and the written and spoken word. She has a decade of experience working in parallel with scientific researchers with whom she shares deep interests in the underlying structures of nature.
Robert Coleman / Laura Sarah Dowdall
Reroot was a site-specific soundwalk, co-created by composer Robert Coleman and dancer Laura Sarah Dowdall, which explored the sensory soundscape of Barnaslingan Wood. Through listening and somatic exercises, field recordings that reveal sounds typically inaudible to the human ear – such as the internal sounds of trees – and performance, Reroot presented an immersive experience. Five guided walks of Reroot took place in March 2024.
Composer Robert Coleman’s current work draws from soundscape studies, site-specific art, field recording, and community and participatory arts. Laura Sarah Dowdall is an innovative dance artist creating engaging work, which incorporates site-specific performance, spoken word and film.
Ticknock: What's Going On? Listen and Breathe
This was the fourth project to be commissioned, and was funded by Creative Ireland. It is a guided podcast which explores the changing landscape of our forests over seasons, years and millennia. The core collaborators Hugh Farrell, Tyler Kieffer and Kevin McNamara have created the work through a series of in-depth interviews with the caretakers and communities who engage with our forests. It can be listened to while walking from Ticknock Forest car park to Fairy Castle. The starting point is the upper car park at Coillte’s Ticknock Forest (Google Maps link) and the walk will take about an hour. Please note that it is steep at times so is not suitable for those with limited mobility. It can also be listened to as a podcast if you are unable to visit the forest.
Download the podcast to your device before in advance, as the signal gets patchy towards the top. Download it here or on the major podcast platforms by searching for Ticknock: What's Going On?
Gallery
