Formal Statement for —Earth & Ash: Ireland
EARTH & ASH: Ireland
My painting practice centers around creating art that resonates on multiple levels—through its materiality, process, and final visual composition—with each element playing a vital role in shaping the overall narrative. "Earth & Ash: Ireland" is deeply rooted in Ireland’s rich and storied landscapes, particularly its culturally and environmentally significant peatlands. During my art residency in Listowel, Ireland, I gathered location-specific materials like peat ash, turf dust, and holy water from St. Brigid’s well, each chosen for its connection to the land and culture.
Irish turf, also known as peat, is a traditional fuel source with deep historical and cultural roots. Harvested from boglands, turf has been used for heating and cooking in Ireland for centuries. Peat ash, with its warm, reddish tones, inspired both the limited palette and the symbolic foundation of these works, reflecting the cultural significance and environmental fragility of Ireland’s peatlands. Holy water introduces a sacred dimension, while gold highlights the differing values placed on this resource, both historically and culturally significant to the Irish people, underscoring the delicate balance between preservation and loss. Carbon-based paints emphasize the role of peat bogs as critical carbon sinks, underlining their environmental importance.
Several pieces in this abstract series are loosely inspired by aerial views of the Irish landscape. These compositions explore the interplay between human intervention and untouched spaces, echoing the landlines and deep grooves left after a bog harvest while preserving sacred locations like standing stones and fairy mounds. Some works include abstracted silhouettes of peat harvesting tools. Gold elements weave through the work, symbolizing layered meanings from material wealth to spiritual significance. Using the ancient technique of encaustic painting with beeswax and amber resin, my process harnesses elemental forces like fire and sunlight, fusing the layers to create textured, luminous pieces that mirror the natural forces shaping the land’s geology.
This exhibition not only reflects on Ireland but also addresses broader environmental concerns. The use of ash—from Irish peat in this series to Pacific Northwest forest fire ash in previous works—serves as a reminder of the fragility of these landscapes and the urgency of their preservation. "Earth & Ash: Ireland" invites viewers to consider the delicate balance between utilizing and preserving natural resources, as well as the universal challenge of protecting our cultural and environmental heritage.
With special thanks to the Regional Arts and Culture Council for the grant funding and support that made this project a reality.
