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很高兴最近(7月28日)在爱尔兰驻华大使馆的“自然大使”活动中讲述“记忆宫殿树的故事”。来自20多个大使馆的人员出席了活动,许多人谈到为增加大使馆绿地的生物多样性所做的改进举措。
本次活动由爱尔兰驻华大使安黛文(Ann Derwin)博士主持,自然保护主义者唐瑞(Terry Townshend)做了介绍。还有来自市政林业和公园部门及环保组织的人士分别做了生动有趣的演讲。
很高兴最近(7月28日)在爱尔兰驻华大使馆的“自然大使”活动中讲述“记忆宫殿树的故事”。来自20多个大使馆的人员出席了活动,许多人谈到为增加大使馆绿地的生物多样性所做的改进举措。
本次活动由爱尔兰驻华大使安黛文(Ann Derwin)博士主持,自然保护主义者唐瑞(Terry Townshend)做了介绍。还有来自市政林业和公园部门及环保组织的人士分别做了生动有趣的演讲。
Delighted to speak about the Memory Palace of Tree Stories at the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing recently (July 28th) for the event Ambassadors for Nature. Over twenty embassies were present , many spoke about on what improvements were made to increase biodiversity of the green spaces on embassy grounds.
The event was hosted by Ambassador to Ireland Dr Ann Derwin and introduced by conservationist Terry Townshend . There were other interesting presentations from Beijing forest & parks Bureau Dr Wang Xiaoping Deputy Director , conservation groups,and educational projects .
Special thanks to Fergus Scott at the Embassy of Ireland for organising this event
Link for further details- by Terry Townshend
很高兴地宣布,我的社会生态艺术实践“记忆宫殿树的故事”已通过卡洛县议会和创意爱尔兰基金获得公共资助。在资助下我建立了一个专门网站,用来收集树的故事的视频。
你的树的故事,只要一分钟!
这些短视频时长不到一分钟,内容可以是关于树木的任何方面,比如历史方面的、植物学方面的树木故事,甚至是生态方面的或者关于你个人的树的故事。如果你能在其中谈论我们如何更好地与地球相处,那就更好了。
为什么要创造你的树的故事?
除了创造个人叙述带来的满足感之外,你还会成为一个树的故事旅行社区里的一员,你的故事将在中国、爱尔兰和其他地方的不同展览上展出。我正在创作艺术作品,作为对很多树的故事的回应。
即将举办的活动
2. 爱尔兰:
卡洛花园节 7月29日-8月5日
“记忆宫殿树的故事”将在节日期间向参观各处花园和遗产花园(Heritage Gardens)的游客征集有关树木的故事。目前,我与卡洛旅游局知名摄像师帕特里克·布拉姆利(Patrick Bramley)和艾琳·奥罗克(Eileen O’Rourke)合作,从不同场地前来聆听名人演讲的宾客那里收集树的故事。
人们可以在活动当天讲述一分钟的树的故事,无需自己拍摄和编辑视频。
该活动得到了卡洛县议会和创意爱尔兰的支持。
一些可以现场录制您的树木故事的场地:
树木之家和花园天堂(Aboretum Home and Garden Heaven)
生命花园(An Gairdin Beo)
达克特格拉夫庄园和花园(Duckett’s Grove House and Gardens)
亨廷顿城堡和花园(Huntington Castle and Garden)
阿尔塔蒙特花园(Altamont Gardens)
哈迪蒙特花园(Hardymount Gardens )
博里斯之家(Borris House )
基尔格兰尼酒店和香草园(Kilgraney House and Herb Garden)
阿尔塔蒙特植物销售中心(Altamont Plant Sales)
2. 中国:
爱尔兰驻华大使馆7月28日
“自然大使”活动(“Ambassadors for Nature”)
我将在这场富有知识性的活动中介绍“记忆宫殿树的故事”,活动将关注如何改善我们周围的生物多样性。我还会讲一点儿《地球宪章》,并邀请大家参加稍后在今年8月举办的“树的故事”工作坊。
Delighted to announce that my socio eco art practice “The Memory Palace of Tree Stories” has been awarded public funding via Carlow County Council and the Creative Ireland Carlow Programme . This support has helped me build a specially designated website for the gathering of peoples tree stories on video.
有一次我去数鸟
作者:凯西·菲茨杰拉德
有一次我在南太平洋一个非常偏远、无人居住的环礁上数鸟,
海拔高度只有几英尺,这个特殊的地方挤满了各种形状和颜色的生命。在所有的大事小情中,人们很容易忘记这样的地方和它们在海平面上升中的命运,然而在一万英里之外,有趣的是,风吹过我的农场,听起来像海的声音。
我认为,我们照料的每一片森林,我们的每一个微小行动,都相互关联。
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征集视频形式树的故事
“树之记忆宫殿” 是一个关注社会与生态环境的艺术实践,这个项目邀请大家通过讲述一个关于树的故事(或者提供与树有关的信息)参与其中。
这也是一个通过分享故事探索如何与地球与他人和谐相处的社会调查。
“树之记忆宫殿”将在2021年继续展开。今年提交的文件是视频格式。如果你有一个故事想分享,请找到你最喜欢的树,坐在树下用手机自拍一条不到一分钟(少于60秒)的视频。我可以帮忙添加英文或中文字幕。请确保您的录音音质清晰。如果对此有任何问题,尽管提问。
可以直接在这个平台上联系我,也可以在网站最后一页查询页面(ENQUIRE)上联系我。
视频#8 –屹立不倒 -约瑟夫·斯图尔特
视频#9 – 好心情树歌- 南
视频#10 – 森林的呼吸 —倪芙瑞莲
视频 #11 – 有保护作用的桃树 – 艾斯·古姆
视频 #12 – 蜜蜂树—第一部分 悬铃木 -米克·维斯普伊
视频 #13 冬天的苹果 – 约翰·麦克·凯纳
视频 #14 古老的红豆杉 –索尼亚·吉本斯
“记忆宫殿树的故事” 是一个关注社会与生态环境的艺术实践,这个项目邀请大家通过讲述一个关于树的故事(或者提供与树有关的信息)参与其中。这也是一个通过分享故事探索如何与地球与他人和谐相处的社会调查。欢迎分享你的与树有关的故事,找到你喜欢的树,在树下拍一条不到60秒的视频讲述你的故事,请确保声音清楚,我可以帮忙编辑和添加字幕。期待你的参与!
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“记忆宫殿树的故事 2020″
这些故事大多是个人的故事。提交的文章来自美国、欧洲、澳大利亚和亚洲的许多不同的人,其中包括儿童作家、诗人、树木学家、艺术家、舞者、守林人、蚂蚁森林应用用户、摄影师、学者等等。本页下方有这些故事的链接。
银杏宫殿 蔗糖系列 83 x 120 cm 铝上印画 Niamh Cunningham 倪芙瑞莲2020 (第15周)
(蔗糖系列) 在铝合金上进行UV打印 ,120 x 160cm, 瑞莲2020
记忆宫殿树的故事正式开始于2020年1月。整个2020年,我向世界各地的人们收集树木的故事,其中有诗人、画家、森林学家、树木学家、艺术家、儿童作家和其他各种各样的人。
十二月——蚂蚁森林 十二月 27, 2020 十一月——与树共舞 十一月 22, 2020 十月——甘榜椰子树. 十月 26, 2020 九月——科希玛的龙爪柳 十月 2, 2020 八月——山楂树 八月 16, 2020 七月——塔拉波托的表情树 七月 30, 2020 六月-- 爬树的人 六月 5, 2020 第二十一周 山指甲叶 五月 25 , 2020 第二十周 蓝树交响曲 五月 19, 2020 第十九周 -有自己合法所有权的树 五月 11, 2020 第十八周 从恐龙时代存活至今的银杏树五月3,2020 第十七周 山毛榉树和偶然成为的学者四月27,2020 第十六周 落雁森林 四月 22, 2020 第十五周 康复之源 四月 13, 2020 第十四周 高原精灵与森林走廊 四月 6, 2020 第十三周 树可以交流 三月 30, 2020 第事儿周 公园里的树 三月 25, 2020 第十一周 鸟和竹 三月 8. 2020 第十周 冻果子 三月 8. 2020 第九周 《树和我》二月 19, 2020 第八周 你院子里的树 二月 23, 2020 第七周 武汉市第五医院里的古老银杏树 二月 19, 2020 第六周 走路去上班 二月 14, 2020 第五周 能治头疼的树 二月 14, 2020 第四周 伸展出的安全 二月 14, 2020 第三周 国王长着驴耳朵 一月 20, 2020 第二周 为何树在低语——儿童故事 一月 12, 2020
栗树– 公园树 蔗糖系列 最初的蔗糖作品 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham倪芙瑞莲 2020 (第12周)
征集视频形式树的故事
“树之记忆宫殿”将在2022年继续展开。今年提交的文件是视频格式。如果你有一个故事想分享,请找到你最喜欢的树,坐在树下用手机自拍一条不到一分钟(少于60秒)的视频。我可以帮忙编辑并添加英文或中文字幕。请确保您的录音音质清晰。如果你在北京,如果你愿意,我可以去给你录像。如果对此有任何问题,尽管提问。
非常期待听到你们的回音。请给我发邮件
niamh@niamhcunningham.com
树歌 济南 蔗糖系列 Niamh Cunningham 2020
这里是一个一分钟的视频作品剪辑,这是十一月树的故事。
x
Very pleased to have a video from Ireland’s leading figure on The Earth Charter, Dr Cathy Fitzgearld. I have known Cathy for many years , and I have taken a number of her courses with Haumea Ecoversity such at Eco Literacy for Creatives and Cultural Professionals and most recently on the Earth Charter .
Cathy made this video in 2009 . Originally from Aotearoa , New Zealand, she was part of a biodiversity research trip to unpeopled Suwarrow atoll in the Cook Islands, South Pacific. Cathy is currently based in County Carlow, Ireland where she and her husband Martin have since 2008 , been diversifying a small conifer plantation forest on their land to become a mixed species, more resilient, more bird-song-filled small continuous cover forest (Hollywoodforest.com)..
Cathy’s words on Trees:
Once I counted birds on a very remote unpeopled atoll in the South Pacific. Only a few feet above sea-level this special place was crammed with life in every shape and colour in all our busyness it could be very easy to forget such places and their fate with rising seas. Yet 10,000 miles away, it is funny how the wind in my forest sounds like the sea . It’s connected I think , each forest we tend , each small action we take.”
original score: Dan Berridge
I highly recommend the transformative learning offered by Dr Fitzgearld for art professionals , educators and business owners and policy makers on her platform Haumea Ecoversity
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Video 1: Empty Tendrils by Yvette Stride
Video 2:Pomegranate Tree by Han Chao
Video 3:Trees are Like Humans by Jenny Hong
Video 4:Old Ash A real survivor by Gillian Cussen
Video 5:Tree Rings of Life by Wang Ligeng
Video 6:A very Weird Elf by Zhu Jinghua
Video 7:Old Crabapple of Wenhua Dian by Matthew Hu
Video 8: Standing Fast by Joseph Stewart
Video 9: Feeling Good – Tree Song by Nam
Video 10: Forest Breath Niamh Cunningham
Video 11: Protective Peach – Ayse Emel Gümüs
Video 12: Bee Tree part 1 – Sycamore – by Mick Verspuij
Video 13 Winter Apples by John Mac Kenna
Video 14: Ancient Yew Trees by Sonia Gibbons
I am currently gathering tree stories in the format of one minute videos but in January 2020 I collected stories in written format .
Most of these are personal stories. Submissions came from a range of different people in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including a children’s writer, poets, dendrologists, artists, a dancer, a forester, an ant forest app user, photographers, academics and more.
See further down this page for these links.
Gingko Palace Sucrose Series 83 x 120 cm print on Aluminium Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 15)
Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Chestnut – Park Tree Sucrose Series original Sucrose 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 12)
Open Call for your tree story on video
Memory Palace of Trees will continue in 2022. This year the submissions will be in video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute (less than 60 seconds), please find your favorite tree sit under it and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with the editing and add the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear. If you are in Beijing I can come and video you if you wish. Please ask if you have any questions about this.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Please email me at niamh@niamhcunningham.com
Here is a one minute video clip for the November 2020 tree story .
作者:索尼亚·吉本斯
我的家建在以前圣安妮教堂的土地上。
是18世纪40年代由布鲁恩上校建造的。
布鲁恩上校觉得有必要在他的领地上建造教堂,
于是和一些教区居民一起,
开始建造圣安妮教堂。
美丽的外墙两侧是两棵古老的红豆杉。
如果那些树能开口说话,
它们可以讲很多故事。
教堂于1926年被拆除,
搬到河对岸建成了一座天主教教堂,
现在叫做圣安妮大教堂。
两颗红豆杉依然伫立在大门两侧。
*******************************************
征集视频形式树的故事
“树之记忆宫殿” 是一个关注社会与生态环境的艺术实践,这个项目邀请大家通过讲述一个关于树的故事(或者提供与树有关的信息)参与其中。
这也是一个通过分享故事探索如何与地球与他人和谐相处的社会调查。
“树之记忆宫殿”将在2021年继续展开。今年提交的文件是视频格式。如果你有一个故事想分享,请找到你最喜欢的树,坐在树下用手机自拍一条不到一分钟(少于60秒)的视频。我可以帮忙添加英文或中文字幕。请确保您的录音音质清晰。如果对此有任何问题,尽管提问。
可以直接在这个平台上联系我,也可以在网站最后一页查询页面(ENQUIRE)上联系我。
视频#8 –屹立不倒 -约瑟夫·斯图尔特
视频#9 – 好心情树歌- 南
视频#10 – 森林的呼吸 —倪芙瑞莲
视频 #11 – 有保护作用的桃树 – 艾斯·古姆
视频 #12 – 蜜蜂树—第一部分 悬铃木 -米克·维斯普伊
视频 #13 冬天的苹果 – 约翰·麦克·凯纳
“记忆宫殿树的故事” 是一个关注社会与生态环境的艺术实践,这个项目邀请大家通过讲述一个关于树的故事(或者提供与树有关的信息)参与其中。这也是一个通过分享故事探索如何与地球与他人和谐相处的社会调查。欢迎分享你的与树有关的故事,找到你喜欢的树,在树下拍一条不到60秒的视频讲述你的故事,请确保声音清楚,我可以帮忙编辑和添加字幕。期待你的参与!
****************************
“记忆宫殿树的故事 2020″
这些故事大多是个人的故事。提交的文章来自美国、欧洲、澳大利亚和亚洲的许多不同的人,其中包括儿童作家、诗人、树木学家、艺术家、舞者、守林人、蚂蚁森林应用用户、摄影师、学者等等。本页下方有这些故事的链接。
银杏宫殿 蔗糖系列 83 x 120 cm 铝上印画 Niamh Cunningham 倪芙瑞莲2020 (第15周)
(蔗糖系列) 在铝合金上进行UV打印 ,120 x 160cm, 瑞莲2020
记忆宫殿树的故事正式开始于2020年1月。整个2020年,我向世界各地的人们收集树木的故事,其中有诗人、画家、森林学家、树木学家、艺术家、儿童作家和其他各种各样的人。
十二月——蚂蚁森林 十二月 27, 2020 十一月——与树共舞 十一月 22, 2020 十月——甘榜椰子树. 十月 26, 2020 九月——科希玛的龙爪柳 十月 2, 2020 八月——山楂树 八月 16, 2020 七月——塔拉波托的表情树 七月 30, 2020 六月-- 爬树的人 六月 5, 2020 第二十一周 山指甲叶 五月 25 , 2020 第二十周 蓝树交响曲 五月 19, 2020 第十九周 -有自己合法所有权的树 五月 11, 2020 第十八周 从恐龙时代存活至今的银杏树五月3,2020 第十七周 山毛榉树和偶然成为的学者四月27,2020 第十六周 落雁森林 四月 22, 2020 第十五周 康复之源 四月 13, 2020 第十四周 高原精灵与森林走廊 四月 6, 2020 第十三周 树可以交流 三月 30, 2020 第事儿周 公园里的树 三月 25, 2020 第十一周 鸟和竹 三月 8. 2020 第十周 冻果子 三月 8. 2020 第九周 《树和我》二月 19, 2020 第八周 你院子里的树 二月 23, 2020 第七周 武汉市第五医院里的古老银杏树 二月 19, 2020 第六周 走路去上班 二月 14, 2020 第五周 能治头疼的树 二月 14, 2020 第四周 伸展出的安全 二月 14, 2020 第三周 国王长着驴耳朵 一月 20, 2020 第二周 为何树在低语——儿童故事 一月 12, 2020
栗树– 公园树 蔗糖系列 最初的蔗糖作品 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham倪芙瑞莲 2020 (第12周)
征集视频形式树的故事
“树之记忆宫殿”将在2022年继续展开。今年提交的文件是视频格式。如果你有一个故事想分享,请找到你最喜欢的树,坐在树下用手机自拍一条不到一分钟(少于60秒)的视频。我可以帮忙编辑并添加英文或中文字幕。请确保您的录音音质清晰。如果你在北京,如果你愿意,我可以去给你录像。如果对此有任何问题,尽管提问。
非常期待听到你们的回音。请给我发邮件
niamh@niamhcunningham.com
树歌 济南 蔗糖系列 Niamh Cunningham 2020
这里是一个一分钟的视频作品剪辑,这是十一月树的故事。
x
Delighted to get this tree story from a dear neighbour and good friend Sonia Gibbons. The Yew Trees near her gate have some special local history and contain the story of moving a church brick by brick across the river .
My home is built on the grounds of the former St Annes Church. Built in the 1840’s by Colonel Bruen. Colonel Bruen felt there was a need, coupled with some of the parishioners, for Church on his domain and he proceeded to build St Annes Church .The beautiful wall outside is flanked by two ancient YewTrees . If those trees could talk they could tell a lot of tales .
The Church was taken down in 1926, moved across the river and built as a catholic church now known as St Clares ’s Church.
Two yew trees remain flanking either side of the gate.
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Video 1: Empty Tendrils by Yvette Stride
Video 2:Pomegranate Tree by Han Chao
Video 3:Trees are Like Humans by Jenny Hong
Video 4:Old Ash A real survivor by Gillian Cussen
Video 5:Tree Rings of Life by Wang Ligeng
Video 6:A very Weird Elf by Zhu Jinghua
Video 7:Old Crabapple of Wenhua Dian by Matthew Hu
Video 8: Standing Fast by Joseph Stewart
Video 9: Feeling Good – Tree Song by Nam
Video 10: Forest Breath Niamh Cunningham
Video 11: Protective Peach – Ayse Emel Gümüs
Video 12: Bee Tree part 1 – Sycamore – by Mick Verspuij
Video 13 Winter Apples by John Mac Kenna
I am currently gathering tree stories in the format of one minute videos but in January 2020 I collected stories in written format .
Most of these are personal stories. Submissions came from a range of different people in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including a children’s writer, poets, dendrologists, artists, a dancer, a forester, an ant forest app user, photographers, academics and more.
See further down this page for these links.
Gingko Palace Sucrose Series 83 x 120 cm print on Aluminium Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 15)
Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Chestnut – Park Tree Sucrose Series original Sucrose 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 12)
Open Call for your tree story on video
Memory Palace of Trees will continue in 2022. This year the submissions will be in video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute (less than 60 seconds), please find your favorite tree sit under it and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with the editing and add the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear. If you are in Beijing I can come and video you if you wish. Please ask if you have any questions about this.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Please email me at niamh@niamhcunningham.com
Here is a one minute video clip for the November 2020 tree story .
连接的模式 Niamh Cunningham与Dolores Cunningham合作作品 20x20cm黑棉刺绣,2022
最近的这件作品是艺术拼贴毯的一部分,这些艺术拼贴毯是由海外爱尔兰艺术家和全球与爱尔兰社群有联系的艺术家共同完成的,为了庆祝2023年2月1日首个国家银行假日圣布里吉德节。
2023年圣布里吉德节庆祝活动“共同的线 ”项目得到了外交部的支持。
圣布里吉德和斗篷的故事
布里吉德见了伦斯特国王,请求获得修建修道院的土地。她选择的地方在基尔代尔,这里非常理想。附近有湖泊能取水,地处森林中能砍柴,附近还有一块肥沃的平原可以种庄稼。国王拒绝了她的请求。布里吉德却没有因为被拒绝而生气。她和她的姐妹们祈祷国王会变得心软。她再次提出请求,但这一次她说:“我的斗篷可以覆盖多少土地,就给我多少土地。”
国王看到她的小斗篷,笑了,答应了这个请求。可是没想到,布里吉德指示她的四个助手每人拿着斗篷的一角,向四个相反的方向走——东、西、南、北。当他们这样做的时候,斗篷变大了并且盖住了许多英亩的土地。她现在有足够的土地来建造修道院了。国王和整个王室都感到大为惊奇。他们意识到她真的得到了上帝的祝福。国王成为布里吉德修道院的赞助人,为她提供金钱、食物和礼物。后来他成为了一名基督徒。大约在470年,布里吉德在基尔代尔的这片土地上建造了她的双重修道院。
“连接的模式”
要定义“连接的模式”并不容易。深度系统思想家格雷戈里·贝特森(Gregory Bateson)认为,自然界的运作方式与人的思维方式不同。
当我们把人类与其他生物分开时,如果我们把人类和气候分开,如果在理论上我们把它们分开,在科学上把它们分开,即使在概念上把它们分开,我们也会遇到问题。
描述关系,使用对照反差和上下文背景,而不是用一个名字把它分离出来。不是去看一件物品的材质和这个部分是什么组成的,而是关注让这些部分协调共存的设计是从哪里来的,这样就有了相似和不同的模式。
自然界的认知模式、冗余、事物的相似之处,都以变化为主题。主题和变化结合起来立刻指向背后的东西……一个形成性原则。
连接的模式是什么?……永远不会有终极答案。
因此,三个树的故事的简单立体形象,融入凯尔特式编织,旨在传递不同层次的意义。
B视频画外音
《连接的模式》是一件由三个树的故事组成的刺绣作品。
以凯尔特式编织使一棵橡树、一棵银杏和一棵柳树在树根处相连。所有的联系都发生在森林地面,而且我们的故事也是彼此联系、交织和相互依存的。
三个树的故事,橡树、柳树和银杏,讲述了圣布里吉德的第一个基督教社区在一小片橡树林中,后来成为了橡树教堂(爱尔兰语Chill Dara ,意思是Church of the Oak),如今被称为基尔代尔(Kildare,发音来自Chill Dara)。柳树的故事讲述了五十年前,我妈妈在我哥哥出生的那一年,在我们的花园里种下了一棵柳树(我哥哥的名字是Dara,意思是橡树)。银杏树的故事来自我自己,我在中国生活了12年,在这里研究银杏。银杏起源于恐龙在地球上行走的时代。我创作了一系列银杏为主题的绘画,三幅银杏画在北京华信医院骨科中心长期展出。
创作的过程是我与母亲的合作,她在我年龄很小还是个小学生的时候,就教给我各种编织手法和缝纫技巧。如今她已经86岁了,开始丢失一些记忆,她过去掌握的技能达到了精通的程度,与她一起合作这件艺术品,对我来说既是一个学习的过程,也不断有新发现,这个过程是一段我们彼此互动连接的旅程。
非常感谢爱尔兰拼贴协会的玛丽·亨特(Mary Hunter)、爱尔兰海外部DFA的索菲·罗根(Sophie Rogan)以及爱尔兰驻华大使馆。
特别感谢电影制作人加里·麦克休(Gary Mc Hugh)在我回到爱尔兰与母亲一起创作这件作品时拍摄这个视频。
揭秘:在视频结尾,他告诉我妈妈:“我会告诉好莱坞现在你有空,C夫人!”所以在视频结尾处响起了欢乐的笑声。
The Pattern that Connects ,20x20cm embroidery on black cotton , 2022 Niamh Cunningham in collaboration with Dolores Cunningham
This recent work is part of a patchwork blanket of artworks by Irish diaspora artists and artists with Irish Community links worldwide. It is made in celebration of the first Saint Brigid’s Day on Feb 1st 2023 . (Bank Holiday is on the first Monday of Feb )
The Common Threads project for St Brigid’s day celebrations 2023 is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This work is currently exhibited at EPIC, Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin. Feb 1-14th 2023
Below is a two minute video of making the artwork while back in Ireland .
The Story of St Brigid and the Cloak
She approached the King of Leinster requesting the land on which to build her monastery. The place she selected in Kildare was ideal. It was near a lake where water was available, in a forest where there was firewood and near a fertile plain on which to grow crops. The King refused her request. Brigid was not put off by his refusal. Rather, she and her sisters prayed that the King’s heart would soften. She made her request again but this time she asked,“Give me as much land as my cloak will cover.”
Seeing her small cloak, he laughed and then granted this request. However, Brigid had instructed her four helpers each to take a corner of the cloak and walk in opposite directions – north, south, east and west. As they did this the cloak began to grow and spread across many acres. She now had sufficient land on which to build her monastery. The King and his entire household were dismayed and amazed. They realised that this woman was truly blessed by God. The King became a patron of Brigid’s monastery, assisting her with money, food and gifts. Later he converted to Christianity. It was on this land in Kildare that she built her dual monastery c.470.
“The Pattern that Connects”
It‘s not easy to define “The Pattern that Connects”. Deep Systems thinker Gregory Bateson said nature works in a different ways to the way that people think.
When we separate humanity from other living things , if we separate humans from climate , if we theoretically separate them , scientifically separate them, if we separate them even in concept, we get the problems we have got .
Describing relationships , using contrast and context instead of isolating it with a name . So it is not looking at the substance of an item and what made that part but more about where did the design come from that makes those parts work together and so there are patterns of similarities and differences .
The patterns of recognition in nature , the redundancies , the similarities of things , these are all themed with variation. The combination of theme and variation immediately points you to something behind it …a formative principle
What is the pattern that connects ?…..was never meant to be answered
And so this simple solid imagery of three tree stories cojoined by celtic interlacing aspires to different levels of meaning.
Video Voice Over
“The Pattern that Connects” is an embroidery work of three tree stories.
An oak , a ginkgo and a willow tree are co-joined at the roots with celtic interlacing . The forest floor is where all the connections happen but also our stories are connected and interlaced and interdependent.
The three tree stories of oak, willow and ginkgo are of St Brigid’s first christian community in a copse of oak, which later became Chill Dara Church of the Oak known as Kildare today. The willow story is of my mother planting a willow 50 years ago in our garden the year my brother was born (who is named Dara ie Oak ) and the Gingko is my story of studying this tree in China where I have lived for the past 12 years. It originates at a time the dinosaurs walked the planet. I have made a series of Ginkgo paintings , three Ginkgo paintings are on long term display in Huaxin hospital- orthopedic centre , Beijing .
The process is a collaboration with my Mother who taught me all my knitting and sewing skills as a very young child in primary school . She is 86 and suffering memory loss and the process of engaging her in this artwork, the skills she used to know to a mastery level , I am learning and making new discoveries with her as I engage with her on this journey of process and connection.
A huge thank you to Mary Hunter from the Irish Patchwork Society , Sophie Rogan of the Irish Abroad Unit DFA , and to the Embassy of Ireland in China .
Special thank you to film maker Gary Mc Hugh for the above video while I was back in Ireland creating the work with my Mother .
Disclosed secret: at the end of the video he told my Mum “ I will let Hollywood know you are available Mrs C ! “ And hence the big laugh at the end of the video clip .
A special thank you to the Cultural Section in the Embassy of Ireland in China , the Department of Foreign Affairs and The Irish Patchwork Society