an casadh (the turn)

Across the duration of an casadh, local earthworms lived within sculptural cocoons processing organic waste into vermicompost. In their interconnected ovoid homes these creatures turned over the soil to generate rich fertilizer, focusing attention on the ecological co-existence which occurs all around us. Located at multiple spaces in Elizabeth Fort, artist Laura Ní Fhlaibhín activated the exhibition through performances that consider the historical significance of the site as a women’s convict depot. Ní Fhlaibhín draws upon personal experience of endometrial illness through sculptural assemblage and ritual to consider health, vitality and restoration in an environment seeped with the memory of incarceration.

A publication featuring writings by the artist and invited contributors Beulah Ezeugo, Laura Fitzgerald and Emily Steer further interpolate themes of illness, care and ecological entanglement. The publication also includes a curatorial text by Katie O'Grady and transcriptions of interviews with Dr.Fidelma Butler and Dr.Israel Ikoyi.

Beulah Ezeugo is a curator and writer who works between Ireland and the UK. Her practice engages with postcolonial geographies and memory, and expands outward through critical writing, exhibition-making, and public programming.

Laura Fitzgerald is an artist. She is practicing (getting better at getting worse, slowly but surely). She makes drawings, videos, installations and paintings. Her work is personal and political.

Emily Steer is a London-based arts and culture journalist. She was online editor and then editor of biannual art magazine Elephant for eight years, and has written for Artnet, Artsy, AnOther, BBC Culture, British Journal of Photography, Elle, the Financial Times, Frieze, Grazia, the Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, The New York Times Style Magazine, Tank, Time Out, Vice and Wallpaper. Her writing often explores the intersection of art and mental health.

Dr. Fidelma Butler is an ecologist at University College Cork with experience in applied ecological issues ranging from road infrastructure, forestry and agriculture, invasive species to native species conservation.

Dr. Israel Ikoyi is a Soil Biologist at University College Cork interested in soil ecology, plant-microbe interactions, microbe-microbe interactions, soil biodiversity, soil nematodes and their environmental importance, soil health, and the role of microbes in sustainable agricultural production and climate change mitigations.

A radio show hosted on community internet radio station éist was broadcast on Sunday, June 14th and featured readings of these writings, interviews with Dr. Fidelma Butler and Dr. Israel Ikoyi of University College Cork’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, an interview with Aisling Kett of Soil Savers and a commissioned soundscape of worm field recordings by musician Ruairí De Búrca.

Listen back to the show on Soundcloud here

Laura Ní Fhlaibhín is an artist from Wexford. She combines myth, personal recollection and oral histories through sculptural elements and writing. Her work often draws upon modes of care - of self and others, humans and animals, objects and materials.

an casadh is curated by Katie O’Grady, curator of Exhibitions and Projects at The Glucksman and has been developed with biologists at University College Cork’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, local community gardening initiatives through Cork City Council, intermittent land-use project TEST SITE and members of Cork Folklore Project. an casadh is funded by a project award from the the Arts Council of Ireland, and created for the Cork Midsummer Festival.

Artist: Laura Ní Fhlaibhín

Glucksman Curator: Katie O’Grady

Writing Contributors: Beulah Ezeugo, Laura Fitzgerald, Emily Steer

Glucksman Assistant Curator: Julie Landers

Special Thanks Dr. Fidelma Butler, Dr. Israel Ikoyi, Glucksman Director Fiona Kearney, Glucksman Curators Tadhg Crowley + Meadhbh Healy, Donal O’Leary, Soil Savers Cork, TEST SITE, Ruairí De Búrca, Declan Synnott, James Furey, Jack Murphy, Éist Radio + Cork City Council