Fionn Timmins’s Ciorcal na nDéise (2024) has heavily inspired the form and concept behind Fuinseoga. I was enchanted by this work which was on display at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin last January.
Its form features 12 sculptures arranged in a circle, supported by steel frames. Made from ancient bog oak, the sculptures stand tall, their presence lingering in my mind for weeks to come. Little did I know that day in December that this work would continue to influence my own work throughout the academic year.
The artwork’s form reflects ancient stone circles found commonly around Ireland. These circles have existed for hundreds if not thousands of years, as long as the bog oak which was preserved by peat. Timmins links this ancient material back to its ancient roots through layout and form.
I reached out to Timmins, explaining the situation of my SICP, and to enquire as to what writers/thinkers/artists informed his work. For him, Manchan Magan and Irish Philosopher John Moriarty were both sources of inspiration, as are Lady Gregory and W.B. Yeats.
Timmins went as far as sending me his final year thesis titled ‘Connecting with Ancient Wisdom through Stone Circles in the Irish Landscape’ (2024). The thesis references multiple stone circles around Ireland along with artists such as Nancy Holt, Richard Long, and Haroon Mirza, as well was Mariko Mori and Dr. Áine Phillips. This academic link between ancient stone circles and modern and contemporary artists highlights the relevance and importance of ancient ritual and tradition in art today. Timmins highlights this by concluding with a quote from Manchan Magan: ‘In time of such change and turmoil, myth might be just the resource we need to help guide us back to where we ought to be’.
While my project is speculative, it was incredibly helpful to speak to the artist to gain a true insight into their work, helping to further inform my own decisions regarding Fuinseoga.
