CCA Derry~Londonderry presents 'Ferox' by Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh | Opening Friday 14 January 2022

CCA Derry~Londonderry is proud to present Ferox – its first exhibition of 2022, and artist Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh’s most extensive solo show to date. You are warmly invited to the exhibition's launch at CCA on the evening of Friday 14 January 2022, 7–9pm.

Ciarán makes use of a wide range of media – customised tools made of ceramic, marble, granite, sound recordings, technical drawings – in an attempt to deal with themes of generational grief, trauma and healing and how these lived experiences are indivisible from the landscape.

Sources for Ciarán’s work are found in his research garnered from historical documentation and archival footage, as well as personal experience and storytelling. Ferox focuses on Lough Fad East, Donegal – a small body of freshwater that supplies drinking water to the surrounding townlands in the Inishowen peninsula. The ecosystem of the lough has been damaged in recent years, most significantly by the introduction of a new fish species that has irreversibly altered its biodiversity which had previously been unaltered since the last ice age.

The inhabiting species are examined through a procedure called a marrow spoon in which its stomach contents are revealed and examined, giving insight into diet and eating behaviour as well as the impact of changes in the land, in the water and the lough’s ecosystem. The fish becomes a conduit for looking at subjects of human trauma and illness manifested in the body.

Ciarán draws parallels between the ecological decline of the land and the creatures that occupy it, and the collective experience of generational trauma by contextualising the technical drawings of the fish next to an imagined rendering of his late father's stomach, which was completely removed as treatment for a very aggressive form of stomach cancer. This radical procedure resulted in a new stomach organ being constructed from the small intestine.

Ciarán references Dr. Raymond McClean’s account of the autopsies carried out after Bloody Sunday (1972) by using a graphic illustration of a human stomach and its contents. The illustrations accompany a three-metre round table made up of two rectangular granite pieces built to hold all iterations of the tools featured across the exhibition. The table has been used in situ for several public events, including a live action roleplay with a horse whisperer, and an illustrated talk at Lough Fad East.

For Ferox the table is split into two halves and placed in separate rooms – in Gallery 3 with dark grey walls and carpeted floor that insulates acoustics and light to emphasise the sound of archived recordings of newsreels and live Irish music, muddled with the artist’s own recordings of mechanical equipment playing. The other half is placed in a room hosting analogue audio equipment, ceramic tools, and a smoke bottle which makes coded smoke ring messages. An enlarged ceramic clay intestine emits vapour alongside several groupings of prosthetic equine ears with embedded binaural microphones. The ears play ASMR style audio narratives and sounds at given intervals.

Ciarán has worked in collaboration with a number of individuals and groups throughout the development of the project; granite sculptor Marberie Bonnichon, draughtspeople Susan Conte and Axel Feldmann, ceramicist Poteries Dequeker, horse whisperer Kelly Marks, wood worker Cyril More, fly dresser Ryan Houston, Aidenville Pottery and North Coast Smokehouse.

Throughout the duration of Ferox there will be a series of accompanying events, pending pandemic restrictions. Follow @CCADLD on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates. The artist is also creating a guide to Lough Fad East and other loughs of Donegal, which will be released later in the exhibition’s run.

About CCA Derry~Londonderry: The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) is a publicly funded space within the historic city walls of Derry~Londonderry. CCA creates opportunities for audiences to experience ambitious, experimental and engaging art and for emerging artists to develop successful careers. CCA fosters a wide range of artistic, curatorial and critical practices through five programme streams: research and production, exhibition- making, public programmes, publishing and residencies. CCA is a shortlisted organisation for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021. CCA was recognised for its resilience and adaptability throughout the pandemic, and their continued effort to support audiences and artists including creating paid opportunities for artists and freelancers when they needed it most. CCA is a member of Plus Tate: Plus Tate is a network, which comprises 35 cultural institutions – including the Tate galleries – that have strong artistic vision, a focus on contemporary art, outstanding public programming and a commitment to local community engagement through art. Plus Tate aims to support the development of the visual arts across the UK. Safety: CCA has a range of safety measures to ensure staff and visitors can enjoy exhibitions with the knowledge that every precaution is taken. This includes hand sanitisers at entrances and exits, track and trace, screens and heightened cleaning schedules. All who are able to wear a mask are invited to do so and a dedicated isolation room is available in the event of the onset of symptoms. For media enquiries: Fiona Allan, Marketing and Digital Programmes Coordinator for CCA Derry~Londonderry 10-12 Artillery Street, Derry~Londonderry, BT48 6RG, Northern Ireland fiona@ccadld.org | +44(0)2871 373538 | @CCADLD