Hear about Mac Cárthaigh's research & solo shows hay boy, gay boy at Cork Printmakers & thirty 6-inch top-down all-purpose at LHQ Gallery

In-Conversation

Maitiú Mac Cárthaigh, Artist & Dr. Nessa Cronin, Head of Irish Studies, University of Galway

Presented in conjunction with Cork County Arts Office this in conversation makes reference to both hay boy, gay boy at Cork Printmakers Studio Gallery and Mac Cárthaigh’s exhibition, thirty 6-inch top-down all-purpose currently on show at the LHQ Gallery in Cork County Hall.

Mac Cárthaigh’s work explores the rural sexual imaginary. Within this, Mac Cárthaigh’s practice focuses on rural gentrification, homonormativity, greenwashing, and the material economies of space and place. They approach work through a Country Boy’s Make-Do methodology, drawing on a Co-Op materiality. Mac Cárthaigh’s practice examines how we construct different kinds of rural space with a materiality not rooted in rurality but with things that come in off the back of a lorry to be bought off the shelf.

hay boy, gay boy builds from Mac Cárthaigh’s writing practice set in Ballybent, a semi-fictional slice of gentrified countryside heaven made for urban consumption. This work follows a throuple who recently relocated from the City to Ballybent.

thirty 6-inch top-down all-purpose explores the interconnectivity of oat flat whites, artificial insemination and rustic sodomy amidst a rapidly yassifying rural Ireland.

Nessa Cronin, Ph.D.

Head of Irish Studies, University of Galway

Dr. Nessa Cronin is head of Irish studies at the Centre for Irish Studies, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, University of Galway, Ireland. As an interdisciplinary scholar with a background in continental philosophy and literature, her recent work in environmental humanities has critically examined the role of humanities research and arts practice in addressing the existential challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. She has published widely on various aspects of environmental humanities, Irish literature, cultural geography and socially engaged arts practices and has won many awards for her teaching and research in these areas. Her writings have been discussed at international public forums and have contributed to national government policy on the critical role that the arts and humanities can play in bridging the gap between climate ambition and climate action.

Description supplied by the event organiser.