Keening in Context: Camilla Hanney in conversation with Marian Caulfield

In conjunction with her exhibition, Lament, Camilla Hanney will host a public conversation with tutor and researcher Marian Caulfield. Marian recently completed a Ph.D. project examining the 'revival' efforts of those who are re-imagining the practice of sounding grief through improvised cry/singing universally known as 'lament'. Marian's project is particularly focused on the recent efforts being made to re-imagine Irish lament (commonly known as 'caoine' or 'keening'), as a modern healing and well-being tool.

Marian has carried out fieldwork in both Ireland and Finland with groups who are attempting to re-imagine older lament traditions to fit modern purposes. Examining the reported therapeutic effects of this non-musical vocality, brought forth by the body from deep within, and how it is considered as a healing and freeing force for bodily and mental tensions and community cohesion.

Marian's current project examines the budding 'revival' efforts of those who are re-imagining the practice of sounding grief together, through improvised cry/singing otherwise known as 'lament', particularly focused on the recent efforts being made to re-imagine Irish lament 'keening' (or 'caoine' in the Irish language).. Marian is interested in the challenges these groups face when attempting to re-invent a lost or dying tradition to be repurposed in the modern world.

Exhibition information here: Camilla Hanney—Lament

_______

Biography

Camilla Hanney (b. 1992) is a visual artist and graduate of Goldsmiths University Masters of Fine Art programme (2017-2019) and also Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (Visual Arts Practice 2010-2015).She was the recipient of the Ormond Studios Recent Graduate Award in 2015 which culminated in a solo show. Her exhibition, Resurrecting Monuments to Moral Degradation, marked the end of her 2016/17 residency at A4 Sounds. Her work has been exhibited by a diverse range of galleries across Ireland and the UK including the South London Gallery in conjunction with Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Lismore Castle Arts, No. 20 Arts, Muse Gallery, Dora House, The Rosenfeld Gallery, and Cromwell Place Gallery. Camilla was the 2019/20 recipient of the Sarabande: Lee Alexander Mcqueen foundation studio bursary. She was the runner-up in the inaugural UK Young Artist of the Year Award, held at the Saatchi gallery. She received the ‘Committee's Choice’ prize at ‘Exceptional, an exhibition of recent graduate work at Collyer Bristow Gallery and was the recipient of the zealous: Sculpture stories prize. Camilla was selected for the Gilbert Bayes Sculpture Award 2021 and was granted a 2020 Arts Council Visual Arts Bursary Award. She is a recipient of the 2022 Newbury Trust Craft Excellence Award in conjunction with Cockpit Arts. Her work has been featured in articles by Crafts Magazine, Elephant Magazine, wallpapermag, Showstudio, Mission Mag, Harpers Bazaar, and Ceramic Review.

Working through ceramics, sculpture and installation Camilla’s practice explores themes of time, sexuality, cultural identity and the corporeal, often referencing the body in both humorous and challenging ways. By subverting traditional, genteel crafts she attempts to transgress and contemplate conventional modes of femininity, deconstructing archaic identities and rebuilding new figures from detritus of the past. By materialising the familiar in an unfamiliar context her work stimulates our ability to rethink our relationship towards objects, threatening the natural order and toying with the tensions that lie between beauty and repulsion, curiosity and discomfort, desire and disgust.

camillahanney.com | @camilla.hanney

Marian Caulfield has worked as a part-time tutor since 2013, academic study coach, student mentor, lesson designer and course coordinator at UCC

Marian completed her BA Music at University College Cork in 2012 for which she was awarded 1st class honors. On this course Marian developed an interest in Experimental Music and Ethnomusicology and also took modules in 'Study of Religions'. Marian is especially drawn in both disciplines, to the area of 'sound' as a 'well-being' tool.

Marian is passionate about fostering a caring relationship with her students through mentorship and pastoral care with a view to enhancing the experience of each student in her charge.

in 2014 Marian was awarded the CACSS Excellence Scholarship to study the MA in Contemporary Religions and was awarded a 2:1 Masters Degree

In 2017 Marian was awarded the CACSS Excellence Scholarship for a PhD research project, which she is currently in the process of writing up after a period of fieldwork and ethnographic research, in both Ireland and Finland.

Marian’s PhD project examines the 'revival' efforts of those who are re-imagining the practice of sounding grief through improvised cry/singing universally known as 'lament'. Marian's project is particularly focused on the recent efforts being made to re-imagine Irish lament(commonly known as 'caoine' or 'keening'), as a modern healing and well-being tool.

Marian has carried out fieldwork in both Ireland and Finland with groups who are attempting re-imagine older lament traditions to fit modern purposes. Examining the reported therapeutic effects of this non-musical vocality, brought forth by the body from deep within, and how it is considered as a healing and freeing force for bodily and mental tensions and community cohesion.

Marian's project also examines the theoretical and ethical issues which surround the re-invention of rituals and lost or dying traditions.

___________

Artist-Initiated Projects at Pallas Projects/Studios is an open-submission, annual gallery programme of 8 x 3-week exhibitions taking place from March-November 2022. This unique programme of funded, artist-initiated projects selected via open call is highly accessible to artists, with a focus on early career, emerging artists and recent graduates. Projects are supplemented with artists' talks, texts, workshops or performances, and gallery visits by colleges and local schools.

Full Artist-Initiated Projects programme

Pallas Projects/Studios is funded by The Arts Council

image: Camilla Hanney, 'Bean Chaointe', 2022, porcelain

Please register for online or in-person. Zoom details will be shared ahead of the event.