‘With Inclined Ear’ is a solo exhibition by artist Saidhbhín Gibson. At the core of the exhibition is the video of the same title accompanied by photographic pieces. The exhibition looks at sheep’s wool and its value, highlighting the disconnect between humans and natural materials.
The video is composed of scenes of a Wicklow Cheviot flock captured over four seasons and spliced with additional footage of wool making processes such as hand carding and spinning, the public artwork ‘Shepherdess Walk Mosaics’ (2012) by Tessa Hunkin in London, and the Transhumance Festival in Madrid which celebrates traditional sheep droving routes. The work follows the farm-to-fibre journey of wool, interrogating the commodification of animals and wildlife habitats, both locally and internationally, in terms of tourism and intensive farming. It broadly proposes a less human-centric world that aims for a mutual alliance with the land and animals.
Saidhbhín Gibson is a visual artist from county Kildare. Her work explores the framing of the more-than-human world for, and by, contemporary society. Multifarious methods of production are employed including video, photography, thread-based techniques, hand-made assemblies and drawing. ‘Beer and Tea Instead of Milk’, her solo exhibition of new work, took place at the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, last year. She presented a new video piece, ‘Feeding the Lions’, at Centro d’Artes de Aljustrel, Portugal, last year also. This year she was a delegate at the 5th European Wool Day in Rome. This exhibition is curated by Rachel Botha.
Public Programme
Saturday 24 May: Wool Research and Weaving Demonstration, Rothe House, 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Book via Eventbrite, free to attend.
Saturday 24 May: H U D D L E discussion group at the Tea Houses, 3.00pm to 4.30pm, please book via hellohuddle@gmail.com.
For updates and booking please keep an eye on the Kilkenny Arts Office blog and the Tea Houses Instagram. The Tea Houses are situated by the river Nore in Kilkenny city centre and have been acquired by Kilkenny Arts Office to host an art programme that encourages a sense of community and active citizenship. Kindly supported by Kilkenny Arts Office, the Arts Council, Creative Ireland, Kilkenny County Council and Kildare Arts Services.
