The Garden of Shadows:A fusion of art and nature
Caragh Bell
Acclaimed British artist, Jony Easterby, is obsessed with shadows. He believes that without darkness, true beauty and serenity cannot be found.
His upcoming Skibbereen Arts Festival event, ‘The Garden of Shadows’ runs for four nights at Liss Ard Estate. This dynamic light and sound installation, set in the wilds of nature after darkness falls, uses video, kinetic sound sculpture and dynamic LED lighting to create a unique and magical sensory experience. It also encourages discourse about our relationship with the natural world.
‘The Garden of Shadows’ sold out completely and received rave reviews when it was part of the Dublin Fringe Festival in 2023. Easterby is excited about bringing this experience to Skibbereen. Even though Liss Ard Estate will be smaller in scale than the National Botanic Gardens, it promises to be just as mesmerising.
The inspiration for this particular installation came from a year-long residency in an old Jacobean farmhouse belonging to the late Australian artist, Sidney Nolan, on the England-Wales border.
A building without electricity, Easterby became intrigued by the darkened spaces and the light-play through the windows where the trees and their leaves outside would cast mysterious shadows on the walls.
The contrast ratio of darkness and light is the very essence of nature. Life is ruled by brightness and shadows: day and night, winter and summer, sunshine and clouds. Gardens are ruled by light, they have plants that thrive in sunlight, whereas some are adapted to the shade.
Humans have an interesting view of darkness, often associating it with fear. Ironically, in the natural world, the nocturnal world can offer animals refuge and safety.
This unforgettable event, staged in the spectacular environs of Liss Ard Estate, invites you on a journey through the mysteries of the night, to overcome that fear of stepping forward into the unknown.
The main message that Easterby seeks to get across with his art is to encourage others to celebrate and nurture nature. Night-time is the shadow of the earth and this stunning visual perspective reminds us that beauty surrounds us should we choose to see it.
His passion for nature is marred by his anxiety for our environmental future, and so by realising his vision, he feels that his work will relate our biodiversity crisis back to people’s existing everyday priorities.
We ended the conversation with a discussion on birds (Jony is an avid birder and tree fanatic) and the coincidental link to another incredible artist on Skibbereen Arts Festival’s impressive line-up: John Metcalfe, the composer, producer, and classical violist, who will be performing in Skibbereen Town Hall on Friday 2 August for one show only.
Easterby has been collaborating with John Metcalfe on his album ‘Tree’, making incredible visuals to accompany the music, and is amazed that both their shows open on the same night as part of the same festival.
‘Tree’ is inspired by nature and the progress of light through day into night, all themes Jony Easterby is passionate about. This merging of talent promises to be magnificent.
‘The Garden of Shadows’ runs from 2 – 5 August nightly at Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen. Tickets for adults cost €20, while under 16s cost €10.
Price includes shuttle bus from Market Street, leaving every 20 minutes between 9pm and 11.30pm and is kindly supported by Liss Ard Estate, Dave Long Coach Travel and Marcia Wrixon.
‘Tree’ by John Metcalfe is on Friday 1 August at 8pm in Skibbereen Town Hall. Book your tickets on www.skibbereenartsfestival.com. Skibbereen Arts Festival starts on 26 July and runs until 5 August.