AIC Scheme Case Study: Otolith

Ruairí Ó’Donnabháin, Comharchumann Chléire and the community of Cape Clear Island

Funded by the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme

Otolith is the second in a series of works instigated by artist Ruairí Ó’Donnabháin under the title ‘Archipelagic Thinking’. The performance event and resulting sculpture is a collaboration between Ó’Donnabháin, composer Seán Ó’Dálaigh, goldsmith Helle Helsner, Comharchumann Chléire and the community of Cape Clear Island. Otolith engages the casting of a pair of cod otolith bones in 18 carat gold by and with the community as the beginning of a time based contract between language and place. Rooted in the economic and social history of the community and its relationship with the Atlantic as primary source of connectivity, commerce and communication.

Read the full Case Study here.