New art installation ‘Special Area of ConVersation’ to be unveiled this weekend

Fingal County Council’s Arts Office is set to unveil a temporary eye-catching art installation called ‘Special Area of ConVersation’ in Portrane on Saturday September 14.

The project is part of a new environmental residency programme entitled ‘An Urgent Enquiry’. It was funded through the Arts Council of Ireland’s ‘Invitation to Collaboration Scheme’ and sees Fingal partner with Dublin City Council and Wexford County Council.

The programme saw artists commissioned in each of the areas to consider the effects of climate change along the east coast and its influences on biodiversity locally.

The Fingal Arts office selected Joanna Hopkins and Mary Conroy who were interested in exploring the Fingal context, with a focus on the unique bird colonies, prominent coastal erosion and a constantly changing physical environment.

‘Special Area of ConVersation’ will feature an installation of newly created hybrid ceramic eggs and will be on view on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15 from 10am to 6pm at Portrane. There will also be a theatre performance from 2pm – 6pm in front of The Brook pub on Saturday.

This temporary public artwork and site specific theatre performance represents an amalgamation of ideas and concepts that were processed through the artists three-month residency in Fingal.

The artwork draws attention to the conservation efforts being carried out in the Fingal area for both humans and wildlife, to highlight the existence, fragility and importance of all the creatures who call the Fingal coastline 'home'.

Since June 2019, the artists have been located at our Resort Residency at Lynders Mobile Home Park, Portrane. They have been researching locally and nationally with specialists in particular species and liaising with our Biodiversity and climate education departments in Fingal to develop their reflection on the theme and the location. This will be presented during The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival 2019.

For further details please visit www.anurgentenquiry.ie.