The fairy tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was allegedly inspired by an upstream river expedition made in Oxford on 4th July 1862.
Thus grew the tale of Wonderland:
Thus slowly one by one,
Its quaint events were hammered out-
And now the tale is done,
And Home we steer a merry crew,
Beneath the setting sun
Damer House Gallery, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, 2015
Through an arts practice involving video, drawing and installation this project explores the perception of time, place and space. Focusing on how different types of time and space; particular histories and environs are recorded through a range of processes and technologies. The work will examine how archive resources can be utilised to reconstruct narratives and provide an alternate reality and viewing experience.
The invention of an imaginary river excursion commencing from the artists home and studio in Castleconnell, Co. Limerick to the galleries location in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary has been informed by historic maps originating from the 1840s. A series of map drawings depict topographical references and details of townlands and parishes and follow the journey of the rivers Shannon, Little Brosna, and Bunow. Concentrating on five locations and featuring a range of scales to create a pattern and a rhythm when mapped out and displayed
The accompanying video piece investigates the moving image, the frame and installation strategies. Black and white photographs-(Stero Pairs) of the River Shannon (1860-1883) have been employed. The display mechanism is an intrinsic component of this work, deployed to communicate and transform the physical and aesthetic qualities inherent within it to the viewer, enhancing their experience and understanding of time, space and place while facilitating a dialogue between the moving and still image, the real and the virtual, illusion and manipulation.
The Raven and the Writing Desk (from Alice in Wonderland) was also exhibited at the Terryglass Arts Festival, 2016
Special thanks to Ordnance Survey Ireland, the National Library of Ireland and Matt Gidney.