Pentti Sammallahti

I came across Pentti Sammallahti by chance while looking at another blog, lucky me! I hope this will help me next year. Really beautiful work. Its like the animals are in a world of their own unaware that the photographer is present.I wonder how many of these came to be by chance? A case of being in the right place at the right time. I hope to make work like this someday.

 

'For all that, Sammallahti's vision is also a lyrical one. He often captures humans and animals in worlds of their own, lost in reverie: dogs chase birds, birds cautiously approach humans or circle above them. Often, his camera captures a single figure in a dreamlike landscape: a man walking down a road in a silent, snow-covered world at dusk, his dog waiting, patient but alert, ahead of him. You can almost hear the crunch of snow underfoot. But what is most palpable is the silence of the surroundings. Looking at the photograph, you feel on the threshold of another, more mysterious world that is indeed here and far away.'

-the guardian (article)

 

Lonely Horse, England, 1998

 

 

Solovki, White Sea, Russia 1992

 Iceland, 1980

 

Solovki, White Sea, Russia, 1992

 

1999 Cilento, Italy (Dog and Tire Pile)

Varanasi, India, 1999

 

 

 

'In Sammallahti’s world, humanity is not the center of the universe. His images are fable-like, where animals act as guides. They enable us to pass into another dimension that our usual haste often leads us to ignore. Dogs are among his favorite subjects, and he often carries dried sardines in his pockets as a treat.

The tableaux are striking. A horse stands on a snowy, plowed field near a windmill under a white sky. Two pigeons seem to play seesaw on a tree branch lodged cross-wise on the trunk. Like a mysterious creature of the night, a frog emerges from a pond. Flamingos with twisted necks nest in Namibia’s high grasses. In a forest’s clearing, a white rabbit sits, as if ready to meet Alice. Under a tree’s horizontal branch, a dog stretches in a yoga-like pose, a perfect parallel to the branch. Another dog walks on a village’s snow-covered path, holding a purse in his mouth.

Sometimes the images are free of animal or human presence. In large panoramic pictures, branches of trees snake and swirl. Square seascapes confront water and horizon in different shades of grey. The sea stretches like a wrinkled elephant skin, or high waves break into a wall of milk-white foam.'

Read more: http://lightbox.time.com/2013/03/19/pentti-sammallahti-here-far-away/#ixzz2S93kMdgX

 

 

 

 

H.P. Lovecraft

Field in America, taken with my Diana F+ camera

 

I found this quote by chance in a book they were giving away in the library. Its used at the begining of a chapter on the Uncanny. Its from 'The Book' by H.P. Lovecraft. I was thinking of using it as my artists statment as it sums up some of what I am doing.

'Nor could I ever after see the world as I had known it. Mixed with the present scene was always a little of the past and a little of the future, and every once-familiar object loomed alien in the new perspective brought by my widened sight. From then on I walked in a fantastic dream of unknown and half-known shapes; and with each new gateway crossed, the less plainly could I recognise the things of the narrow sphere to which I had so long been bound.' -H.P.Lovecraft, The Book

 

H.P. Lovecraft is a great writter. I have one of his books at home but after finding this quote it has spurred me to invest in more.

The Uncannny is something that keeps touching upon my work, its unavoidable at this stage.

 



Recollect Exhibition

Our 3rd year exhibiton went off without a hitch. The opening was a great success with two-hundred some people visiting on the night.
Below are some photos of my work in the exhibition. The pillows I have posted earlier but the photos are new. Two are the interiors of a dollhouse and  the building is on the Croom, Adare road.
Im happy enought with my installation, I think it would have been better if i could have covered the whole of the window and had more cushions. The image in the window is a screen print of my bed on thin paper which has been oiled onto the window creating a translucent effect so it can be seen from the street. The works are about space, memory and dream.
I hope to make more of the cushion and create a larger installation in the future.
Everyone's work was presented beautifully, thanks to our curator Caelan Bristow. You wouldn't know that there were twenty six people showing their work.
I would like to have shown everyone's work on here but there is far to much to put in one post. So below are some selected works and photos of the gallery space. Also there is a video of the opening night, the music is great and I can be seen at the very start in my blue grey dress!

The Moon asked for flowers,  acetate print by Eva Bryne

An installation in the outer window by Mary-Clare O'Brien

Installation and video by Rosie Cleary

Selected works by Hazel Egan and Mags Codd

Photography by Dawn West

New Pillows

I have made a couple of new pillows, I thought it would be easier if i just threw them all into the same post. I have taken photos of the front and back of eash pillow as well as some detail.

 

Recollect

 

Opening tonight at Raggle Taggle in Limerick our 3rd year end of the year exhibition. All are welcome.

Mutant Space Art Rescource were kind enought to mention us in their artists blog as well..

http://www.mutantspace.com/limerick-school-art-design-exhibition-recollect/

 

The Gathering Opening

 

Last week was the opening of the Gathering project in Shannon Airport.

The 3rd year fine art department were allowed to go to the airport for the opening. It was a nice event and we were all made very welcome.

The work is hanging above the seats in the departure lounge for all of those passing through the airport to see.

Prizes were given and I was lucky enough to receive second place for my work.

Below is a link for an article on the project in the Limerick Leader.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/lifestyle/entertainment-arts/visual-arts/the-gathering-comes-to-life-at-shannon-airport-1-5029187

Second place by me!

The winners of the gathering project, 2nd, 1st, and 3rd

Mags, Rosie and me.

 

first place by Peter Bradley in 3rd year painting

Third place by Deirbhile McSweeney in 3rd year print

 

Below are works by some of my friends

 

 

 

Robert Montgomery

I have fallen in love with the work of Robert Montogomery. He is a text based artist who works in a poetic and melancholic post- situationist tradition. He creates his work using neon's, billboard's, drawing, woodcut, fire and sunlight.
His recycled sunlight pieces are perhaps my favourite. I get the feeling that his work draws inspiration from Gaston Bachelard's The Poetics of Space, especially after seeing his temporary spaces piece. If you haven't read The Poetics of Space, then you should, whether you are an artist or not it is a lovely read. I have been thumbing through it for the past couple of months, it has become a big part of my studio practice.

Recycled Sunlight:

 

 

Fire Poems: