Eamon dives into Galway Bay. Galway, 2022.
LANDSCAPE OF GREEN AND GREY
Landscape of Green and Grey explores the West of Ireland, the coastal landscape and its people. The photos of the series were taken in the Counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal and Clare between 2022 and 2024. The series consists of black-and-white fine art photography prints, printed by the artist. The project is ongoing.
The landscape of Ireland’s west coast is cultural landscape, thoroughly transformed by human activity. Roads, ditches and power lines pierce through the bare and windswept environment. Forests and bog lands are cleared and drained to make way for farmland, buildings and turf cutting.
The landscape has nevertheless retained its wild character. North-Atlantic weather fronts and winter storms consume the concrete of the breakwaters and piers. Briars and creeping vines, emboldened by the humidity, conquer derelict houses and labyrinths of dry stone walls. The wind and rain leave their mark on the coastal landscape and its people. Forces of nature dominate.
However, the landscape contains also emotion. Landscape of Green and Grey documents, not just the apparent human traces in the landscape, but also and foremost what is essentially invisible: the sense of purpose, belonging and emotions that the landscape confers to its inhabitants.
Landscape of Green and Grey was exhibited in the Gallery Laterna Magica in Helsinki, in September 2024. Finnfoto (The Central Association of Finnish Photographic Organisations) kindly supported the exhibition.
Patterns. Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, 2022.
Zorro braves storm Franklin. County Mayo, 2022.
Dunes restoration. County Clare, 2023.
Silt and seaweed. Céibh an Spidéil, 2022.
Séan and the gale. Galway, 2022.
Boat to Aran. Galway Bay, 2024.
The coastline of West of Ireland is full of rugged beauty. In the winter the landscape is a blend of muted green, grey and brown. Only evergreen trees and scrubs defy the damp chill. Frequent storms flood beaches with seaweed, brine and debris. With storms come wind warnings and occasional high tide surges. Nature dominates.
After winter the subtle colors of barren landscape morph into lush green. Ocean, the great mass of water, changes its color from steel grey to teal and cobalt. Never ending crashing and humming of waves continues regardless of witnesses.
The cliffs and rocky shores are eroded by the waves. Terraced cliffs of Aran Islands expose this patient destruction well. Erosion marks the passing of time. In a very tangible sense, time is nothing but sedimentation and erosion of matter.
Waves and winds corrode steel and concrete with the same indifference as majestic coastal cliffs, outpowering human endeavors.
Rubin and Milo at Claddagh boat cemetery. Galway, 2023.
War of erosion. Inis Oírr. Aran Islands, 2023.
A safe place. Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, 2022.
A roadside shrine of 'Our Lady of Miracles'. County Donega, 2023.
Dry stone wall. Inis Mór, Aran Islands, 2023.
Into the blue. County Mayo, 2022.
Summer. County Sligo, 2023.
Observation post. County Donegal, 2023.
Tide pattern. County Sligo, 2022.
Once a Seagull. Galway, 2024.
Abandoned coastguard station. County Donegal, 2023.
Patterns on sand. County Sligo, 2024.
To Golgotha. County Galway, 2022.
A causeway to Mutton Island. Galway, 2024.
Blackrock. Galway, 2022.
Winter day at Lahinch. County Clare, 2022.
A horse of Inis Meáin. Aran Islands, 2022.
Cú Sidhe of Grattan beach. Galway, 2022.
Terminal. Inis Mór, Aran Islands, 2023.
Road to Derrigimlagh. County Galway, 2023.