Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council announces details of new artworks that respond to local forests

Temporary artworks created by artists commissioned under ‘Nature and Place’ initiative invite public to explore forests in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (dlr) Arts Office has today (13.03.24) issued an invitation to members of the public to experience three new temporary artworks that take inspiration from the public forests in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The artworks were created by three professional artists, who were commissioned by dlr Arts Office under its ‘Nature and Place’ initiative in December 2023. As part of the initiative, which is supported by Coillte Nature and the Dublin Mountains Partnership, the artists were provided with funding from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to observe, explore, and respond to the six forests of Ticknock, Tibradden, Barnaslingan, Carrickgollogan, Kilmashogue and Ballyedmonduff, and to create works that are either lens or audio-based.

The resulting artworks are:

• Multimedia installation artist Méadhbh O’Connor’s sonic artwork Sky Walkers, which invites people to take a walk in the forests of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and to stop at key points to listen and take a private moment to reflect. O’Connor’s work features seven 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 aims to bridge the scientific with a sense of wonder, and the poems, which have historical, mythical, scientific and futuristic references, are set over atmospheric, ambient and meditative soundscapes. The sound files and map will be available to download from the dlr Arts Office website for self-guided walks from 22 March.

• A series of photographs, captured by photographer Martin Healy 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, which will be available to view on the dlr Arts Office website from 22 March.

• A site-specific soundwalk, co-created by composer Robert Coleman and dancer Laura Sarah Dowdall, which explores the sensory soundscape of Barnaslingan Wood. Entitled ReRoot, the artwork has the desire to connect more deeply with the natural world through our senses at its heart. 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 presents an immersive experience that aims to renew our relationship with the natural world. Five guided walks of ReRoot will take place between 22 March and 24 March. The walks, which last approximately one hour, are free to join but strictly limited to 20 participants each. Advance booking via Eventbrite is essential:  https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/reroot-tickets-852272890157.

The artworks will be officially launched by the artists and dlr Arts Office at an event in Carrickgollogan Wood on Saturday, 23rd March 2024.

Commenting on the commissions, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan said: “We are delighted to share details of the artworks created under our ‘Nature and Place’ initiative today. The three artists we commissioned last December have carefully observed our local forests over the past few months and have all created artworks that – each in their own way – highlight the important environmental and recreational benefits of the rural and forested part of our County.”

Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Frank Curran added: “The artworks created by Méadhbh, Martin and Robert impressively demonstrate that our forests are a wonderful source of creative inspiration, and that they provide us with opportunities to pause, listen, observe, reflect and reconnect with nature. We invite everyone to engage with these superb works and express our thanks to Coillte for its support with this initiative, as well as to the Dublin Mountains Partnership, of which we have been a partner since its formation.”

The six forests that are the subject of the ‘Nature and Place’ art commissions are all part of the Dublin Mountains Makeover, a long-term project manged by Coillte Nature in partnership with the Dublin Mountains Partnership to change the forest management focus to forests where biodiversity and recreation objectives are the priority.

“The forests in the Dublin Mountains are among the most important recreational sites for a growing urban population seeking fresh air and green space. They are also an incredibly rich source of biodiversity and play a vital role in climate mitigation and adaption,” said Director of Coillte Nature, Ciarán Fallon. “As part of the Dublin Mountain Makeover, we are changing the use of hundreds of hectares of land from productive to recreational forests, and we are delighted to be a partner in the ‘Nature and Place’ initiative. The artists’ works are an excellent creative response to the forests’ capacity to provide both ecological benefits and enjoyment.”

Chair of the Dublin Mountains Partnership, Suzanne Furlong added: “Our forests, woodlands and mountain habitats are important for our mental health and wellbeing and provide opportunities for rest and relaxation in nature as well as more active pursuits like orienteering, mountain biking and running. The Dublin Mountains Partnership is very excited to support the ‘Nature and Place’ initiative, and we congratulate dlr Arts Office and the three artists on their fantastic work.”

The official launch of the ‘Nature and Place’ art commissions will take place in Carrickgollogan Wood at 1.30pm on Saturday, 23 March 2024.

For further information about the commissions, please visit dlrcoco.ie/arts.

ENDS

Contact: Sebastian Enke, Enkom PR, Tel: 087-3239496 / Email: media@enkom.ie