Cosmic Gas is a series of works on paper that fuses materials devised from poisonous invisible methane gas and explores ideas of what will manage to live in the ruins we have made. Consisting of both drawing and lithographic prints, they bear the direct imprint of plant fragments collected from bog sites, what used to be living organisms, which over time have become gaseous. The drawings appear delicate and complex, conveying the light and dark histories from which they emerge — recounting stories of life and decay — from remedy/medicine to the poisoning of an ecosystem.
Siobhan McDonald, ‘Cosmic Gas’ 2022. Painting and Chine collé on German etching paper: plant fragments collected from bog sites and glaciers. Created through invisible methane gas. The prints painted with an ink of methane pollution extracted from the bogs, reproduce images of solar eclipses from a 1905 Sonnenfinsternis-Expedition.
Biography
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.
