West Cork artist's exhibition examines gravel pit biodiversity

Cork County Council will present a solo exhibition of work by a West Cork artist at County Hall next month.

The exhibition, entitled ‘Archiving Hope’, presents artwork that looks at the erupting biodiversity in an abandoned post-industrial West Cork gravel pit.

The works, produced by Fiona Hayes, who is an emerging artist based in West Cork, will be displayed at the foyer of Cork County Hall from October 9-25.

The work is a deep-mapping investigation into the raw ecological environment.

Exposed by extraction, this disused 40-acre West Cork gravel pit is part man-made lake and part biological desert.

Since its closure and in the absence of man, nature has taken charge, with wind-borne or ruderal plants, whose nutritional requirements are modest, being the first to colonise the 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. Printed and projected imagery documents the magical transformation within this accidental nature reserve.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Mary Linehan-Foley said the council is “delighted to present this work by West Cork artist Fiona Hayes at County Hall”.

“Our natural heritage in the county includes native wild plants and animals, natural habitats, geology, and landscapes,” said Ms Linehan-Foley.

“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 is wonderful to see the resilience of the natural world in this disused space.”

An opening reception will take place at LHQ Gallery on October 9 from 5pm to 6pm, with an artist talk taking place on October 24 from 1pm.