Person to Person: Peter Nash on the flooding memory he can't forget and Culture Night 

Tell us about yourself:

I am a visual artist based in Cork. I’m a studio member of Backwater Artists Group and Cork Printmakers and work as an Assistant Lecturer at MTU Crawford College of Art and Design.

My practice is informed by an ongoing research into pre-internet sources of knowledge and methods of communication. Incorporating drawing, print, animation and sculpture, the work explores themes of human fallibility in an age of digital perfection, alternative facts and increasing automation.

The meticulous methods of making, including carving, printmaking, drawing and animation, are used as tools for slowing down; to gather, process and share information and ideas. These time-consuming processes pose a direct contradiction to the urgency and relentless pace of life in the attention economy.

My exhibition Let’s Not Talk About This Now is taking place at Cork Printmakers, opening on Culture Night in Cork city on September 19 and continuing until November 14.

The exhibition takes the form of an exploded encyclopaedia, or chaotic museum exhibit. Whilst the exhibition aesthetic is influenced by museums and reference books, there are no claims to authority being made, with more questions posed than answers presented.

Where were you born?

Born in Trowbridge, brought up in Carlisle, northern England.

Where do you live?

Cobh.

Family?

Yes, I’ve a lot of brothers and sisters.

Best friend?

Dave Rocks

Earliest childhood memory?

Flooding the bathroom, and the water dripping down the ceiling into the front room. I’ve never been allowed to forget about that.

Person you most admire?

My parents. I’ve a lot of brothers and sisters, and we’re all working doing something we’re interested in and care about, so my parents must have been doing something right when they were bringing us up.

Person who most irritates you?

Anyone playing loud videos/music on a mobile phone in an enclosed public space, without headphones. Pure annoying!

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Butlins Pwllheli, Wales. We went there a few times when I was young.

Favourite TV programme?

Peep Show.

Favourite radio show?

Marty In The Morning, Lyric FM.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Cottage pie

Favourite restaurant?

Bombay Palace, Cork city

Last book you read?

Cobalt Red, by Siddharth Kara.

Best book you read?

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Hard Cold Fire, by Therapy?

Favourite song?

For Whom The Bell Tolls, by Metallica.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Motörhead. I never got the chance to see them live.

Do you have a pet?

No.

Morning person or night owl?

Depends what I was doing the previous day.

Your proudest moment?

Having some of my work acquired by Crawford Art Gallery for the National Collection of Ireland.

Spendthrift or saver?

Saver.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

A funicular. Would save having to walk up the hill!

What makes you happy?

Making art.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a decent person.

What else are you up to at the moment?

We’re just starting a new semester at the Crawford College of Art and Design, so it’s good to be back.

I’m also working on another exhibition happening at the LHQ gallery, Cork, opening in early 2026.

I’m currently experimenting with electronics, motors and elements of puppetry for that one, and have a research visit to Scotland coming up which I’m looking forward to.

Outside of work, I’ll be catching up with friends and family and enjoying the change of season from summer into autumn.

I am looking forward to being out and about for Culture Night Cork City 2025.