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Sowing a Tapestry of Biodiversity
The theme of disconnection with space and place brought us to consider our taut relationship with the natural world, particularly as citizens of a built urban environment. Examining this theme through an environmental lens, like ecologists lifting a magnifying glass to our eyes, we seek to explore the biodiversity crisis in Dublin city.
Our physical disconnect from nature perpetuates the social and emotional distancing from environmental issues, such as biodiversity, furthering its destruction. By not valuing the earth we are not valuing our roots. Human beings are inherently linked, interconnected and woven through the fabric of the natural world. As artists and designers, our line of inquiry is embedded in how we may reconnect, realign and stitch our values back into our tapestry of biodiversity.
We seek to value and respect the autonomy of our flora and fauna as equals to us, allowing them to recolonise and reclaim the space we have taken over.
We would like to recognise the contribution Níamh Murray, Professional Master of Education, UCD has made to the work through her poetic response.
Rachel Gartlan is a Dublin based artist and student teacher. Over the course of her studies, Rachel has developed a multi-disciplinary practice which has its roots in social engagement and forms of dialogical process. Through this engagement, Rachel explores the expression, representation and documentation of particular individuals/groups/communities who are close to the artist in varying ways. Rachel is interested in the collaborative learning that takes place in social engagement to the extent that this interaction is at some level the art, which is something she strives to bring to both her artist practice and teaching career.
Sinead Power is a designer – artist – educator studying a Professional Masters of Education in NCAD. She studied fashion design for her undergraduate in NCAD and finished this course in 2019. Sinead seeks to use her past experiences in the design industry to enhance and broaden the depths of student learning and creativity in the classroom through experiential generation of design.
Sophie is an Artist and Educator based in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently enrolled in the Professional Masters of Education programme in NCAD and will graduate in 2023. She completed her undergraduate studies at NCAD in 2016 where she studied Fine Art Sculpture. She is both an Irish and Swedish national and has an interest in both cultures.
Sophie’s art practice revolves around themes of communication, connection, intimacy and the everyday. She works with a variety of mediums including painting, drawing and photography.