Visual Arts

'Multi-species Quadrat study' © Seoidín O'Sullivan, 2022. Observation of small plots PhD study by scientist Jane Shackleton on Devenish's research farm at Dowth.

Holdings

Cliona Harmey, Maria McKinney, Rachel Doolin with Anne Marie Deacy, Seoidín O'Sullivan, Martina O Brien

06 May - 17 June

Opening Reception: Sat 06 May, 2:30pm, all are welcome, no booking required

Curated by Belinda Quirke

This exhibition emerges from artist interaction with the unique site at Devenish Lands at Dowth. Solstice invited each artist to explore the lands and its habitation. The site’s distinctiveness draws from the complex layering of histories as neolithic farmlands, its georgian dwelling, Dowth Hall, to the innovative agri-research laboratory of Devenish. The farm sits in the iconic curvature of the Boyne valley.

Maria McKinney’s practice reflects on the wider societal implications brought about by developments in agriculture and genetic research. As part of her ongoing examination into the complex science of food production for our growing human population, McKinney handcrafts sculptural installations exploring animal feed manufactured by Devenish, and soil mycology. Beginning from the ancient stone carvings at Dowth, Cliona Harmey explores the future past of solar significance of the site through experiment in light reactive substances. Harmey’s practice looks to both historical and contemporary technologies, both trialling DIY tech and 19th century anthotypes, in which images, derived from photosensitive plant material develop in sunlight. Seoidín O’ Sullivan's fieldwork explores the soil ecology, and research methodologies undertaken by female scientists at the lands of Dowth. O’Sullivan correlates the quadrat, a key grass measurement device, to the ancient devices of sator, rebus and mathematical magic square. Martina O’Brien practice poses questions concerning our failing hubristic control of nature, and the duality of haptic and technological systems. Here O’Brien manually and methodically collects feral night-time footage on the lands, harvested from CCTV she distributed throughout the property. Rachel Doolin, with Anne Marie Deacy, speak to the ancient soundings and the use of white quartz stones known as ‘Clocha Geala’ at neolithic burial sites. They will explore the vibrational energies of the lithic remnants at Dowth Hall, mining meaning and insight from the hidden vernacular of the site.

As part of Reveil 10, the 24hr global collective broadcast, tuning in to the world at dawn, Anne Marie Deacy and Rachel Doolin live streamed from The Stone Of The Seven Suns, kerbstone 51, a megalithic passage mound at Dowth in the Boyne Valley, Ireland.

For this sonic excavation and interaction, this listening in onsite elaborated on their research which explored the vibrational energies of lithic remnants, in an attempt to mine meaning and insight from the hidden vernacular of these megalithic sites.

Listen to Rachel Doolin and Anne Marie Deacy's recording of the dawn chorus from Dowth