Aoife Hogan Link Seeing the Light

Research
IMAGE: Capturing light in jars, collaborating my my younger brother
IMAGE: Creating an 'archive' of light from across various locations
IMAGE: Painting colours of light, oil on board, 31 x 44 cm
IMAGE: Capturing moments of light quality across painted squares, watercolour on paper, 59 x 83 cm
IMAGE: Recording shadow, pencil on paper, 21 x 30 cm
IMAGE: Recording shadow before and after, pencil on paper, 30 x 42 cm
IMAGE: Stitched shadow drawings displayed on window, thread and watercolour on paper, 59 x 41 cm
IMAGE: Exploring light through stained glass, glass and lead, approx 20 x 17 cm

My project seeks to explore light as a collaborator: it is the medium which facilitates and underpins all creative practice. The conditions and qualities of light inform our perception of the visual world. I was drawn to examine natural light, particularly as we humans exist increasingly under the ubiquitous, static glare of the electric bulb.

The novelist, Markus Zusak writes: ‘People observe the colours of the day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it’s quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment’.

The quality of natural light fascinates me – both ephemeral and mercurial; travelling through a multitude of hues within a single moment; eluding definition yet central to the character of a place or memory.

The impact of climate change and light pollution lends urgency to this investigation – a future bereft of the olive light of the ocean or dappled amber sunshine of a forest is a frightening vista.  My work attempts to document, reproduce and archive some of the complexity of this essential force.

Experience:

Being HUMAN 2021/22