STUDIO(dys)TOPIA

Cosmic Gas

Siobhán McDonald (IE)

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Cosmic Gas ist eine Serie auf Papier, in der Materialien, die aus giftigen, unsichtbaren Methangasen entwickelt wurden, mit Vorstellungen dessen verschmolzen werden, was in den Ruinen, die wir hinterlassen haben, noch leben kann. Die Reihe besteht aus Zeichnungen und lithographischen Drucken, die Abdrucke von Pflanzenfragmenten aus Moorgebieten tragen, vormals lebende Organismen, die mit der Zeit zu Gasen wurden. Die Zeichnungen wirken fragil und komplex, sie vermitteln die hellen und dunklen Geschichten, aus denen sie entstehen – erzählen die Geschichten von Leben und Vergänglichkeit – von der Arznei / Medizin zur Vergiftung des Ökosystems.

Credit: Siobhán McDonald

Credit: Siobhán McDonald

Credit: Siobhán McDonald

Biography

Siobhán McDonald’s practice draws attention to contemporary topics dealing with air, breath and atmospheric phenomena, weaving scientific knowledge into her art in a poetic and thoughtful manner. Siobhán works with natural materials, withdrawing them from their cycles of generation, growth and decay. This ritualized process gives form to a range of projects which consider our place on Earth in the context of geological time. Her work with glaciers and other natural phenomena deploys a unique artistic language that gives form to intangible and richly varied processes including painting, drawing, film and sound.
Siobhán is working with world-leading research facilities such as The European Space Agency (ESA) and The JRC European Commission to explore nature in light of current ecological concerns. Across research labs, her research-based approach pursues knowledge to ask questions about the structure and history of the Earth. She calls on notions of what is still unknown to science, exploring the Anthropocene and the recent consequences of our treatment of nature. 
Artist-in-Residence at Studiotopia and Trinity College Dublin (2020-2023.) Siobhán is exploring the Anthropocene and the recent consequences of our treatment of nature. Current and upcoming exhibitions include: The Model, Ireland (2023), Centre for Contemporary Art LAZNIA (2022); Bozar, Brussels (2022) and Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris (2022)
Recent awards include the Ocean Memory Award (2022); Arts Council Ireland Project Award 2022; EU Commission Alumni award 2021; Culture Ireland Award 2022; Arts Council’s Visual Arts Bursary 2020; Creative Ireland Award 2020 and Climate Whirl Arts Programme Helsinki 2021.
Recent shows include BOZAR, Brussels, 2020; Deutsches Hygiene-Museum DHMD, 2020; Volta, Basel 2019; Limerick City Art Gallery, 2019; Deutsches Hygiene-Museum DHMD, 2019; The National Trust Fox Talbot Museum, UK, 2018; Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, 2018 among others. Her work is represented in many collections, both public and private such as The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, The Ulster Museum and Trinity College Dublin. Her projects are supported by The European Commission, The Institute of Physics, Culture Ireland, The Arts Council and The European Research Council.

Credits

Arwyn Jones (IT), European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy. European Commission, Joint Research Centre Soil Series.
Professor Jennifer Mc Elwain (IR), Professor of Botany (1711), Botany, Trinity College Dublin. Collaborator:
Robert Russell, Graphic Studio Dublin.
Matthew Saunders (IR), Professor in Plant Ecophysiology at Trinity College Dublin.

Cosmic Gas was commissioned by Gluon within the framework of STUDIOTOPIA, a project co-funded by Creative Europe Program of the European Union. With the kind support of VIB and National Culture and Arts Foundation. With the kind support of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, JRC and the Brussels Capital-Region. The project is also courtesy of Arts Council of Ireland Project Award, Trinity College Dublin, Monaghan County Council and the Creative Ireland Award.

STUDIOTOPIA is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.