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I realised that in my previous post the short expl I realised that in my previous post the short explanations of the work images had mysteriously disappeared. Apologies for reposting but hopefully the images will make more sense now with the discription of how light is being manipulated in each art piece. This is just a small sample of the ways I use light in my work. Image 1. Hesperidae – Inspired by light being reflected off the surface of water. Image 2. Light Drawing – Single light source split by prisms to create a line drawing. Image 3. Polychromatic Shadow Configuration Device. Coloured light blended to create white light, which then separates into colours again with viewers intervention. Image 4. Caustics I & II – Light 'folded' using a reflective surface. Image 5. RGB - Light from a snowy analogue tv screen stretched to reveal RGB colour mechanism by using a glass crystal sphere. Image 6. Untitled - Blue laser light turns green when shone through lead crystal. Image 7. Eidalon – Reflected/bounces light used to create an immersive light 'painting'. Image 8. Scintilla – Light refracted/split through faceted glass crystals.
Instagram takeover, day three. My name is Helen M Instagram takeover, day three. My name is Helen Mac Mahon and I am a Dublin based artist whose work was recently exhibited in the Kilkenny Arts Office gallery on John Street. This exhibition, Prima Materia, formed part of the year long exhibition programme curated by Aoife Banks. Today I'll describe how I use light as a material. In the modern world we are continuously bathed in light, it is so ubiquitous that we now barely register its presence. Conceptually, Light is a fascinating subject for study. Light is deeply intertwined with all realms of human existence — religion, spirituality, health, science, philosophy, astronomy, architecture, agriculture and is the key element in communications in our increasingly digital world. Light gives the world form. Light is essential for life. It is therefore interesting that when we consider what we think light is, our answer is often surprisingly one dimensional. Light is not the most common material used in art-making (although on one level it is essential for all artworks). It is extremely beautiful but a bit of a Diva! It can be very demanding in terms of exhibition space and lighting conditions. In fact certain works can appear very different as they are exhibited in physically different places. My art practice is by necessity highly experimental, and my studio serves a similar function to a laboratory. Although light itself is immaterial I use it in much the same way as I would a physical material. Light can be bent, curved, coloured, mixed, spread, split, shaped and bounced! There is a strong scientific basis to my research but ultimately the final artworks are those that elicit an emotional response or a sense of wonder. Ultimately, I prioritise creating works that evoke a feeling or atmosphere, and it is only over time that a more conceptual meaning settles on the work, much the same way as a layer of dust gradually settles on an object! Image 1. Hesperidae – Inspired by light being reflected off the surface of water. #kilkennyartsoffice #aoifebanks #marybutler #kilkennycoco #artscouncilireland #emergingcuratoraward #lightwork #lightinstallations #lightartinIreland #helenmacmahon #primamateria
Instagram takeover day two. My name is Helen Mac Instagram takeover day two. My name is Helen Mac Mahon and I am a Dublin based artist whose work was recently exhibited at the Kilkenny Arts Office gallery on John Street. The work in the exhibition Prima Materia, was selected in response to a text written by Curator Aoife Banks outlining the conceptual framework of her yearlong exhibition programme as Kilkenny Arts Office Curator in Residence. "Covid-19 has disrupted the perceptual world as a place of familiarity to that of a foreign landscape... The reorienting of self in space and the shifting of perception that has occurred as a result of the pandemic and the resulting safety precautions and restrictions has irrevocably altered our phenomenology of perception" For many of us, the past 18 months has seen our world rocked to its core. Contrary to what our senses would have us believe, the world we inhabit is not solid or fixed but exists in a state of perpetual creation. Institutions, structures and supports that once seemed unassailable have crumbled in the face of an invisible enemy. Prima Materia, the name given by alchemists to the formless substance that is the essence of the beginnings of all things, a primordial chaos existing in a state between energy and matter containing all possibilities. Many alchemists believed this substance to be light. Carl Jung believed it to be the unconscious mind,. Prima Materia therefore seems a fitting metaphor for a time at which we find ourselves poised at a point of infinite potential, ready to review, renew or rebuild our inner and outer worlds. Each of the light works selected for the exhibition exist in this state of perpetual creation. While the projections might appear to be fixed and constant to some degree, they are in fact being endlessly created at the speed of light. (Video clip shows the light installation 'Circe') #kilkennyartsoffice #aoifebanks #marybutler #kilkennycoco #emergingcuratoraward #lightwork #lightinstallations #lightartinIreland #helenmacmahon #primamateria
My name is Helen Mac Mahon and I am a Dublin based My name is Helen Mac Mahon and I am a Dublin based artist whose work was recently exhibited in the Kilkenny Arts Office gallery on John Street. This exhibition, Prima Materia, formed part of the year long exhibition programme curated by Aoife Banks, winner of the 2021 Kilkenny Arts Office emerging Curator-in-Residence award. Prima Materia opened on Culture night and consisted of three light installations, Dissolution, A Series of Catastrophes and Circe. Due to Covid restrictions, the exhibition was designed to be viewed through small apertures in the vinyl-clad windows. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to stop and have a look at the work during the duration of the show. Image one: Prima Materia Image two: Gallery Exterior Image three: Circe Image four: A Series of Catastrophes Image five: Dissolution (image from earlier exhibition) Image six: First visitors Over the next few days I will write a little about my artistic practice and some of the things that influence the work I create. #kilkennyartsoffice #aoifebanks #marybutler #kilkennycoco #emergingcuratoraward #lightwork #lightinstallations #lightartinIreland #helenmacmahon #primamateria
Prima Materia by Helen Mac Mahon @lighttamer is no Prima Materia by Helen Mac Mahon @lighttamer is now open! 💡 Pictured: Circe (2018) Drainpipe, drainpipe fittings, mirrored mylar, acrylic, glass paint, spotlight, motor, music stands. Circe, a light work reminiscent of a vortex, a swirling centre of energy awaiting metamorphosis. As the light streams to create the wall projection, the work itself exists in a state of perpetual renewal. Prima Materia has been curated and designed to be viewed through the gallery windows and online. This exhibition sees work being exhibited in 76-77 John Street Lower, Online at kilkennyartsoffice.ie and on Instagram @kilkennyartsoffice The past 18 months have seen our world rocked to its core. Contrary to what our senses would have us believe, the world we inhabit is not solid or fixed but exists in a state of perpetual creation. Institutions, structures, and supports that once seemed unassailable have crumbled in the face of an invisible enemy. Prima Materia, the name given by alchemists to the formless substance that is the essence of the beginnings of all things, is a primordial chaos existing in a state between energy and matter containing all possibilities. Some alchemists believed it to be light. Carl Jung believed it to be the unconscious mind. Prima Materia, therefore, seems a fitting metaphor at a time we find ourselves poised at a point of infinite potential, ready to review, renew or rebuild our inner and outer worlds. Mac Mahon’s art practice is concerned primarily with the phenomena of light, movement, perception, and space. The work strives to observe and reveal the ecosystem that exists between the viewer and these intangible elements that exist in a perpetual state of transformation. Changes occurring in each element have a perceptible impact on the others, revealing previously overlooked properties and characteristics. Mac Mahon’s work is influenced equally by contemporary developments in Physics and Optics and by the historical developments of these fields within the disciplines of Natural Philosophy and Alchemy. @culturenight #contemporaryart #irishart #irishartists
Check out Prima Materia by Helen Mac Mahon @lightt Check out Prima Materia by Helen Mac Mahon @lighttamer through the viewing ports at 76-77 John Street Lower, Kilkenny Incase the fingerprints around the viewing ports weren’t a dead giveaway, theres already been a lot of excited kids here to view! Prima Materia has been curated and designed to be viewed through the gallery windows and online. This exhibition sees work being exhibited in 76-77 John Street Lower, Online at kilkennyartsoffice.ie and on Instagram @kilkennyartsoffice The past 18 months have seen our world rocked to its core. Contrary to what our senses would have us believe, the world we inhabit is not solid or fixed but exists in a state of perpetual creation. Institutions, structures, and supports that once seemed unassailable have crumbled in the face of an invisible enemy. Prima Materia, the name given by alchemists to the formless substance that is the essence of the beginnings of all things, is a primordial chaos existing in a state between energy and matter containing all possibilities. Some alchemists believed it to be light. Carl Jung believed it to be the unconscious mind. Prima Materia, therefore, seems a fitting metaphor at a time we find ourselves poised at a point of infinite potential, ready to review, renew or rebuild our inner and outer worlds. Mac Mahon’s art practice is concerned primarily with the phenomena of light, movement, perception, and space. The work strives to observe and reveal the ecosystem that exists between the viewer and these intangible elements that exist in a perpetual state of transformation. Changes occurring in each element have a perceptible impact on the others, revealing previously overlooked properties and characteristics. Mac Mahon’s work is influenced equally by contemporary developments in Physics and Optics and by the historical developments of these fields within the disciplines of Natural Philosophy and Alchemy. @culturenight #irishart #irishartist #installation #kilkenny
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