Let there be Light, and other works for Group Shows

Let There Be Light
This installation piece has been selected for two group exhibitions. It is inspired by my desire to shed "light" on the pressing issue of climate change through creative and imaginative processes. The piece is created from found objects, each carrying a story and evoking different eras.

At its core is a 100-year-old lamp stand from my grandmother's home, paired with a 150-year-old lamp I discovered in her shed. This lamp was originally used to light horse-drawn carts or carriages—a testament to a time when objects were made to last. The final element in the installation is a discarded €2 plastic solar-powered pink bulb from my own home. The contrast between these objects is striking: my grandmother’s era of repair and preservation stands in opposition to today’s throwaway culture, where plastic dominates our lives.

Through this juxtaposition, I want the piece to evoke memories of the past while urging viewers to reflect on our current consumerist society and its devastating impact on the environment. Ironically, during the exhibition, the plastic bulb melted as the days went on. I’m unsure how this occurred, but it felt symbolic—reminding me of the destruction wrought by millions of tons of plastic entering our oceans, harming marine life and ecosystems.

In collaboration with scientists, I learned that plastics are derived from the byproducts of fossil fuels. Their production and consumption are increasing year by year. Alarmingly, scientists predict that by 2050, plastic production and waste disposal could account for over 10% of harmful emissions driving climate change.

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Scientific Facts

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CIEL

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Detritus and Rubbish:

A project exploring waste in Ireland over the past century inspired by my Grandmothers and my own life.

"When we look at the materiality of the pieces, the incredible increase in the consumption of fossil-fueled products such as plastics is evident in these two contrasting pieces. It makes me pause and reflect on my plastic imprint in the world" (A teacher's reflection written into the exhibition comment book).