The Irish Traditional Music Archive and Music Network have commissioned a new multimedia work by visual artist Aideen Barry inspired by the Edward Bunting harping manuscripts collection. The work is a collaboration with Inuit Canadian throat singer RIIT ᕇᑦ, harper Aisling Lyons and designer and milliner Margaret O’Connor. The installation is titled Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ and was conceived under the the Bunting Commission award, which was announced in 2019. It will be presented as part of Barry’s ‘By Slight Ligaments’ exhibition at the Limerick City Gallery of Art from 16 December 2021 to 13 February 2022. 

Barry was commissioned to create an original artwork inspired by the Bunting Harp Collection. Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ draws parallels between Bunting’s preservation of ancient Irish harp music at the 1792 Belfast Harp Festival and the idea of the existential threat to all human culture and existence due to environmental change. The work examines the role of art and artists at a time of great uncertainty, environmental collapse and the prospect of a world of ruin if no action is taken. 

On 21 December, there will be a live presentation of the work that will be live-streamed from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. This will be available to view on the social media channels of ITMA, Music Network and Aideen Barry.

The soundtrack to Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ includes music composed by Cathal Murphy and arranged by Stephen Shannon, and will be available on vinyl as a limited edition signed artwork.

For more, visit: www.itma.ie/latest/news/oblivion-opening-announcement