Gravel pit turned art hit in new county hall exhibition
An exhibition of art works exploring the self-healing capacity of the natural world through the re-wilding of an abandoned space will open at Cork County Hall next week.
Emerging West Cork artist Fiona Hayes’ solo exhibition ‘Archiving Hope’ presents artwork that looks at the erupting biodiversity in an abandoned post-industrial West Cork gravel pit. Opening on 9 October at the LHQ Gallery in the foyer of Cork County Hall, the exhibition represents a deep-mapping investigation into this raw ecological environment.
Exposed by extraction, the disused 40 acre gravel pit is part man-made lake and part biological desert. Since its closure and in the absence of man, nature has taken charge. Wind-borne or ruderal plants whose nutritional requirements are modest are the first to colonise this bare and stony landscape. These are followed by succession species and by a multitude of invertebrates, insects, small mammals, and a diverse array of wild birds.
Concrete blocks hold fragmented images of this new life and of the delicate flowers, herbs, grasses, and tiny trees that have erupted from between the stones and rocks. In the exhibition, printed and projected imagery documents the magical transformation within this accidental nature reserve.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley said: “Our natural heritage in the county includes native wild plants and animals, natural habitats, geology, and landscapes. Much of this heritage can be found in places we would expect, such as in bogs, wetlands, rough grasslands, uplands, mudflats, and salt marshes. It is not often that we look deeply into post-industrial sites and the resulting natural landscapes. It’s wonderful to see the resilience of the natural world in this disused space.”
Fiona Hayes is a multidisciplinary artist based in West Cork whose practice is deeply rooted in themes of biodiversity in abandoned space and the interconnections between natural and human-made environments and systems.
Her work spans sculpture, installation, audio-visual, and other media while reflecting a commitment to exploring ecological narratives with sensitivity and respect.
Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art from Sherkin Island, graduating with first-class honours, and a Master of Arts in Art and Environment, also with first-class honours. In 2024, she was awarded the Arts Council’s Agility Award, recognising her innovative approach and dedication to developing her artistic practice. The same year, she received the Irish Concrete Society Sculpture Award, affirming her capacity to interrogate industrial materials with a view to creating works of conceptual and aesthetic resonance.
‘Archiving Hope’ runs from 9-25 October at Cork County Hall in the foyer on the ground floor.
An opening reception will take place on the 9 October from 5-6pm and all are welcome to attend. An artist talk will take place at 1pm on 24 of October.
County Hall is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
The exhibition is presented as part of the LHQ Gallery programme. LHQ Gallery is managed by the Library and Arts Service at Cork County Council, supported by the Arts Council.