Whiddy Island near the head of Bantry Bay was an inspiration to the young artists.

The art of something beautiful in West Cork

An exhibition showcasing the work of seven Technological University Dublin graduates will open in Cork tomorrow, Friday.

Idir Sholas, the MA Art and Environment (TU Dublin) graduate exhibition will be launched at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre by Dr Ailbhe Murphy, Director of Create: the National Development Agency for Collaborative Arts.

The exhibition will feature works from TU Dublin graduates of the Master’s Degree Programme Deirdre Archbold, Ann Burns, Guy Dalton, Sinéad McCormick, Sylwia Migdal, Katie Nolan and Ruairí Ó Donnabháin, and includes a diverse range of media encompassing multi and digital media, film, photography, sound, virtual reality, performance and installation.

Ann Davoren, Director of Uillinn, said: “We are really delighted to present the first graduate exhibition showcasing this exciting and innovative master’s programme. The work in the show is ambitious and inventive, reflecting the capability of this student group and the calibre of the programme.”

The MA Art and Environment (MAAE) combines post-studio art practice, interdisciplinary research, virtual teaching, island studies and community engagement.

Located in the West Cork archipelago and Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, the programme is supported by a team of artists, lecturers, and researchers based in the Dublin School of Creative Arts (TU Dublin) and by an interdisciplinary, island-based and international network of peers and colleagues. With its focus on environmental art practice and community art-related knowledge, the students are actively involved in contemporary culture as organisers, makers and commentators.

Reflecting on the student experience, Course Coordinator Dr Glenn Loughran said: “It is now clear that islands are crucial to our understanding of climate change. Developing an arts pedagogy within this context has been an important development for the school and the college. The exhibition, Idir Sholas, represents the students’ journey over the past 17 months through the bio-technosphere at a time of great intensity and urgency.”

Idir Sholas opens to the public at 6pm on Friday, 25 March.