"Time in rural surrounds, isolated to the edge of the Atlantic, allows you experience the season’s elements more deeply. These works are a visual interpretation of these experiences; the winter light’s stark shadows which linger, fading low on the mountainside; the pure vast darkness of an overcast night on the peninsula; wild winds howling through the wet winter grasses.
By pulling and dragging colour and texture across the canvas with the same energy felt from the crashing rain or by manipulating the visceral medium of paint to create a balance of motion, each piece gestures to presence in a fleeting moment. This series pushes the viewpoint away from specifics and expresses the whole, the essence of the landscape." - Kari Cahill
These paintings are part of an ongoing series of work. Three paintings from the series have been exhibited in the Doswell Gallery in Rosscarbery, West Cork in April 2016 in a group show “Locales” curated by Roisin Foley. Kari will return to the Doswell in September as part of Taste of West Cork.
Kari has worked in a range of creative fields both as an artist and designer - a combination that has resulted in a diverse practice. She grew up surrounded by the landscapes of Athens, Greece and West Cork. She lived in Dublin for 9 years, and after spending time in India has found herself back in West Cork.
An important part of her process is spending time on a specific site considering the impact of the elements and how her work will form around these conditions. Although her sculptural work sees juxtapositions of form + function, her two dimensional work sees a greater emphasis on texture and movement. Her paintings focus on the energy of the landscapes around her. Bright streaks of light, heavy areas of dark and delicate changes in texture can be seen throughout her work.
Works made for TOMBOLO 2016.
While she was studying Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, she set up Basic Space - a not-for-profit artist-led contemporary art space, and was Director of the space from 2011-2014. Basic Space existed in a 10,000 sq Foot Warehouse in the heart of Dublin 8, before moving to Marrowbone Lane. She set up residency programs and curated exhibitions and projects within this context; facilitating the work work of both Irish and International artists practicing a range of disciplines.
Following this, and after spending time living in The West of Ireland she created Scarfskin, a project that aimed to reconnect to traditional Irish trades. Focussing on the Sheepskin trade Scarfskin used design processes, collaboration and commerce in an attempt to revive this forgotten industry.
She is one half of the curatorial body Lay of the Land, which aims to drive artists and the experience of art outwards, into the wilderness, forging deeper connection with Ireland’s natural landscape. She believes that by drawing the viewer out of the gallery space, and into alternative spaces, she can create and facilitate the production of art works that engage with the audiences inhabiting those spaces. Lay of the Land produces a large scale outdoor exhibition called TOMBOLO which takes place on the headland of Brow Head. This ambitious project is funded through the Arts Council, Cork County council and through the crowdfunding platform Fund It. www.layoftheland.ie (Read more below!)
Works made for TOMBOLO 2016.
LAY OF THE LAND
Artistically our aim is to drive artists and the experience of art outwards into the wild landscape of this island
We believe that the interconnection of art, nature and people can be transformative. Our projects create greater accessibility to the arts in rural communities while allowing the visual arts to stand alone as a valuable and necessary cultural activity and experience.
We produce powerful, imaginative and considered projects that encourage artists and their practice to engage with the landscape surrounding them, while forging deeper connections with local community and the history and heritage of that landscape.
The project’s success depends on individuals and organisations dedicated to unique and progressive artistic endeavours. The project is enabled by crowd sourced funding, local businesses, Cork County Council, The Arts Council of Ireland, and supporters of the arts throughout Ireland.
Portrait taken by Katie Sanderson
Follow, Contact & Support
www.instagram.com/layofthelandproject
https://fundit.ie/project/tombolo-a-site-responsive-art-project
Listen to a podcast about Kari's practice: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/ep-4-art-travel-inspiration-creativity-sustainability/id1235147537?i=1000389355900&mt=2