Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ installation will run at The Townhall Cavan from 4 August – 15 September 2022.

𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬𝗮𝗺 - 𝟰:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ was originally commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive under the Bunting Commission award.

Barry’s epic new multimedia work OBLIVION /SEACHMALLTACHT / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ was made in collaboration with internationally renowned Inuit Canadian singer and song writer RIIT ᕇᑦ, Irish harpist Aisling Lyons and with costume design by Margaret O’ Connor. Composed by Barry with Cathal Murphy & Stephen Shannon, the music both acts as a type of contemporary electronica anthem, a moody poetic sound score and a bleak gothic anthem crossing the world of music and visual art.

In this spectacular installation Barry has responded to multiple sites of research and a commission from the Irish Traditional Music Archive and Music Network inspired by the 18th century Edward Bunting Harp Collection.

The installation merges two indigenous musical cultures to create a new sound. It includes Inuit throat singing, Irish harp and electronica beats to make a dark anthem full of gothic tropes, a haunting call to arms asking: What is the role of art and artists at a time of great uncertainty, environmental collapse and the prospect of a world of ruin if we do nothing at all?

It was first presented as the centrepiece of Aideen Barry’s “By Slight Ligaments” exhibition at the Limerick City Gallery of Art from 16 December 2021 – 13 February 2022. The installation was also shown at The Source Arts Centre, Thurles from 18 March – 29 April 2022.

A live iteration of Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ was live streamed from The Complex Dublin on 21 December 2021 and can be viewed here on the ITMA YouTube Channel.

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