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Artist

Róisín Loughrey

Title of Project/Exhibition 

'On the Edge of Eden'

Project/Exhibition Statement

On the Edge of Eden is a body of film/video and print work that comes from my ongoing exploration, during my residency, into the nature of children's connection to their outdoor environment, my own very intimate relationship with nature as a child and how that plays out for children today in a more fearful and 'plugged-in' culture.

Using as a starting point Richard Louv's Last Child in the Forest, I've been re-examining the notion that children are becoming increasingly disconnected from the outdoors. Memory, nostalgia, intimacy, separation and withdrawal are all seen from within the parameters of the child's wilderness- the garden.

The exhibition is a series of prints from film stills and two film/video installations;

'Spring Has Forgotten This Garden'

Video/Colour/6 min

'tree-house'

2-channel installation

Film/Colour/4 min

Exhibition Images

Artist Statement

My film work comes from an instant of wonder, a tiny response to something immense and universal. Memory, trust, solitude, beauty… somewhere within the essence of these concepts there lies a very small moment of personal curiosity and imagination that reflect this universality. Using film, video, photography and sound I reconstruct and make sense of these small moments creating films that question, through my own experiences or others what it is we believe in or hold close. What do we remember? What do we want and desire? Issues of identity, memory and selfhood are all examined. Since 2003 I have worked mostly within the confines of the film industry, depending on the support of large funding and commissions. My residency in the Leitrim Sculpture Centre and and ensuing exhibition has been an excellent platform for me to bring my work back to its initial creative roots giving me an opportunity to work with the available technology in a more solo and experimental fashion as an artist, whilst using the skills of my film training. It has been a very exciting and productive process. 

Biography

Róisín Loughrey graduated from the National Film School, Dún Laoghaire in 2003. While at college she won the TV3 ‘Cast 2001’ Award for her short drama 'Dreams of a Forgotten King'. Her graduate film 'Fall Into Half-Angel' a short documentary, was screened both in festivals worldwide and went on to win five international awards, including the prestigiousSilver Dove at the International Festival of Documentary & Animation, Leipzig. Her work since then has been shown at home and internationally, including Museum of Modern Art, New York(MoMA); SmartLab International Symposium, London; Independent Exposure 07 – Seattle / San Francisco/Anchorage/ Housten and Film Expo Texas 2007. Her films have also been shown on RTÉ, TG4, TV3, BBC NI, PBS (USA) Movieola (Canada) and SBS (Australia). She lives in North Leitrim and is currently a resident artist at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre while also participating in TRADE, a residency with four artists from Leitrim/Roscommon and London based artist Darren Almond.