Déanfaidh an dáimh seo
go gearr aon chorp



these kindred spirits will
shortly form themselves into one body



found in dictionary as an unreferenced literary use
in Fóclóir Gaeilge-Béarla 1977 Ó Dónaill

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shane finan

Collaborating with fungi, sheep, humans, semiconductors, birds.

Assembling things into art including electronics, light, painting, timber and more.

Proud member of Visual Artists Ireland, the representative body for artists in Ireland, and a constant source of support and information.

visual artists ireland membership badge

Supporter of federated, free and open source software:

bookwyrm website logo logo of peertube, open source video sharing platform

Signatory of Culture Declares Emergency:

latest news

28th November 2023

website: I am working on updating this website at the minute so please excuse slow updates

18th November 2023

collaboration: varia at ^, Manorhamilton, Ireland

As part of my Arts Council of Ireland bursary award, I have been working with Rotterdam-based arts collective varia on developing skills and understanding for building data servers based on feminist and posthuman principles.

This has included opening a collaboration between my collective ^ and varia, who visited Manorhamilton in November 2023. Photograph by Cían Flynn

Members of varia present to an audience at ^ in Manorhamilton

13th November 2023

event: Designweek Leitrim 2023, Manorhamilton and Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland

I was invited to programme events for Designweek 2023 in Leitrim by Creative Heartlands and Leitrim Design House to programme 2023 design week events.

The events included a one-day workshop on artist-led servers by Rotterdam-based collective varia and a panel discussion on myth and Irish techno-cosmology by collaborators writer Mike McCormack and artist El Putnam, chaired by Dr. Paul O'Neill of Dublin Art and Technology Association. Photograph by Cían Flynn

Members of varia present to an audience at ^ in Manorhamilton

26th October 2023

event: Púca in the Machine 2023, Blessington Library, Wicklow, Ireland

Three artists present new works about the Poulaphuca Reservoir, in a project that I have led since 2021.

Visual artist Saidhbhín Gibson (Kildare) has drawn from an 1842 etching that presented the Poulaphuca waterfalls before the area was flooded, when it was a popular tourist site for wealthy patrons, and has created a new video and three handkerchiefs that respond to the area today. Multimedia artist Margaret O'Brien (Liverpool) has created a fuel cell from soil at the reservoir, and has worked with local Ballyknockan-based signer Fiona Lyons to create sung responses to the lake. Writer Robert Barrett (Wicklow) has written short monologues of the critters, human and nonhuman, that exist(ed) beneath the water and will play recordings of these monologues through a 1940s radio that has been repaired for the presentation.

A collage with the logo for Puca in the Machine and a person throwing a stick to a dog. The person and dog are from an 1800s print, while the background is an edited photograph of Poulaphuca bridge.

25th October 2023

publication: stepping in cracks, Swap Spaces, Reagenz, Graz, Austria

A chapter in the book Swap Spaces, which documents the 2022 project Swap Space which I was a collaborating artist on.

The chapter is a poetic reflection that documents how the work came together, and how I saw my own role in the broader collaboration.

The book cover for Swap Spaces, with a scanned image of leaves and the book title

25th October 2023

talk: Swapped Space, Kunstverein Graz, Austria

Presented a prerecorded talk at Kunstverein Graz as part of the launch of the book Swap Spaces.

Silhouette of a person standing looking out a first flood doorway into a wintry scene with a tree and mountains

15th September 2023

new artwork: Féth Fíada, How It's Made, Creative Places Balbriggan, Dublin

A new artwork was created drawing links between electricity and myth/magic, from the perspective of my first mobile phone. Developed for How It's Made and commissioned by curator Valeria Ceregini.

The artwork is a 3-screen video essay that includes a program that converts the written essay into binary code. The full installation (7 minutes, 30 seconds) can be viewed at this link.

A 3-screen video installation with one portrait format and two landscape. On the portrait screen is some text, with earthy images on the other two

7th September 2023

event: BENBO AWAKE, ^, Manorhamilton

A final event for the project waking the land, the collective at ^ built a banner and staged a social event at ^ in Manorhamilton, Leitrim.

Three people stand around a textile artwork looking at it

3rd July 2023

social events: Waking the Land, ^, Manorhamilton

As part of the collective ^, we are coordinating new artist-led social events each Thursday in August 2023 for the project Waking the Land. Each week a different artist will hold space at ^. More information at this link.

A group of people work collectively on an artwork

3rd July 2023

interview: Assembly at the Jackie Clarke Collection

Interview film by Anula Productions and supported by the Jackie Clarke Collection about the artwork Assembly, created as Decade of Centenaries Artist in Residence 2022.

artist shane finan reading documents in the Jackie Clarke Collection archive

1st July 2023

documentation: The Question Concerning Technology in Ireland?: Art, Decoloniality and Speculations of an Irish Cosmotechnics by Dr. El Putnam, MDPI Arts 2023, 12(3)

Dr. El Putnam's publication features an academic response to the artwork Assembly (2022) by Shane Finan as part of an evolving Irish cosmotechnics. The paper explores this alongside work by ANNEX and Putnam's own performances.

1st July 2023

new project: Waking The Land

With the collective ^, a new project has begun partnered with the Glens Centre Manorhamilton and supported by the Irish Hospice Foundation's Compassionate Culture Network. The project will explore environmental loss and rural depopulation using the Black Lough on Benbo mountain as a storytelling device.

21st June 2023

publication: Wood Wide Web, in Reseeding published by the Kielderhead Wildwood Project

A chapter in the book contains a photographic artwork series based on time spent at the Kielderhead Wildwood Project on the residency Wood Wide Web. The publication was launched at Northern Stage, Newcastle, where I presented the work in a 10-minute talk to an invited audience of ecologists, artists, volunteer planters and the public.

1st June 2023

launch: COMPOST Issue 3, ^, Manorhamilton

COMPOST Issue 3: Water is launching across June and July in venues local to the contributors, worldwide. Launches are taking place in LA, Delhi, London and Manorhamilton. The Manorhamilton launch was also the first public opening for the new art-research collective space ^

31st May 2023

publication: mischief, submerged, COMPOST Issue 3: Water

A prose essay about the entanglement of myth, ecology and technology at the Poulaphuca Reservoir, Wicklow, published in Issue 3 of the collaborative online magazine COMPOST

Once accepted, Púca then takes the person on a wild journey between our world and the realm of na daoine mhaithe (the good folk, sometimes referred to as fair folk or fairies), scaring the unsuspecting human until their hair turns grey. Sometimes the passenger falls off and is trapped in that other realm. Púca's ability to cross between worlds makes them capable of unpredictable mischief.

A photograph of a lake shore with three tree stumps in a line, each with its roots exposed from years of erosion

21st May 2023

exhibition: DISTRO, Cavan Arts Festival, Cavan, Ireland

A collection of zines by the collective ^ and a book about the project Púca in the Machine both exhibited at DISTRO, Cavan Arts Festival, an exhibition of self-published books and zines in Ireland, curated by Chloe Maguire. A table with many zines and books, all self-published by artists in Ireland

17th April 2023

documentary: Artflicks, Artlink

A 10-minute documentary about my work with lichen at Artlink Fort Dunree. View the video at this link.

2nd April 2023

kickoff: Púca in the Machine 2023, Poulaphuca, Wicklow

The second edition of the art-research collaboration Púca in the Machine kicked off with a meeting of the 2023 artists Margaret O'Brien, Saidhbhín Gibson and Robert Barrett. The artists met at Poulaphuca and walked the shores, guided by me as project manager.

Three artists stand in a lake, only their feet visible. They are wearking wellies. One is holding a branch with some lichen on it.

20th January 2023

talk: Myth-ecology and Technology, Techne logos, Care and the (neg) Anthropocene, European Technological University, TU Dublin

I presented work at the 3rd EUT annual conference on technology, care and mythology.

A slide with an image of algae and a tree in a lake, and the words technology is not neutral

latest exhibitions

Assembly

sep 1st 2022-jan 31st 2023 Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland

An ongoing art installation influenced by the museum collection that changes weekly until the official launch on November 19th 2022 by Dr. El Putnam.

A photograph of an art installation in the corner of a room, featuring printed material with illegible text, colourful images, and a monitor with an image of an airplane wing

How It's Made

sep 15th-23rd 2023 Creative Places, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Group exhbition and events curated by Valeria Ceregini. New artwork created for the exhibition, and a presentation given on art, technology and myth.

A 3-screen video installation behind a window

BENBO AWAKE

sep 7th 2023 ^, Main Street, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

New collaborative banner artwork created with other ^ members Laura McMorrow, James Kelly and Tara Baoth Mooney.

A banner artwork with a mountain on a large backdrop

Púca in the Machine leg iii

nov 12th 2022-jan 7th 2023 Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

The third leg of the exhibition of research-based artworks from the Poulaphuca Reservoir. More information at this link.

A poster image of an artwork glowing on a lake edge

Púca in the Machine leg ii

oct 8th-nov 5th 2022 Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady, Co. Derry, Northern Ireland, UK

The second leg of the exhibition of research-based artworks from the Poulaphuca Reservoir

A gallery view of an exhibition with a blurred person walking through the space

Swap Space Graz

april 28th-29th 2022 Reagenz Ost, Graz, Austria

Presentation of research artworks from one-month residency in Graz, combining research and collaborations from the Swap Space team into an interactive artwork about the nonhuman and human traces that are created when we move into and through a place.

An abstract photograph of an artwork that shows a projection onto an uneven brown surface. The projection looks like microscopic images of roots or some other vague sinewy form, with bright white background areas and darker root- or thread-like forms.

Púca in the Machine

february 17th-march 5th 2022 Blessington Library, Blessington, Wicklow, Ireland

Exhibition of artistic research and works in progress from a new project about the more-than-human at a flooded valley and reservoir, Poulaphuca, in west Wicklow, Ireland.

A photograph of a sculptural artwork at Poulaphuca Reservoir. The artwork is a sculpture of a tree-stump with roots spreading out in many directions. The roots are made of fibre-optic cables, which glow in the light. The stump is taped together with heavy-duty tape. In the background is a lake view at dusk.

Supported by:

ENTWINED

december 1st-14th 2021 Assembly House, Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

Two artworks are showing at the second leg of ENTWINED as the exhibition tours to a Newcastle venue.

a photograph of an the outside of assembly house in newcastle with the ENTWINED logo and the names of the exhibiting artists shown on a vinyl in the window

Supported by:

Reboot Me Softly, 19th annual Piksel Festival for Electronic Art and Free Technologies

november 18th 2021 - november 21st 2021 Piksel 21, Bergen, Norway

Two interactive artworks have been selected to be part of the 2021 exhibition programme for Piksel, an international network and annual event for electronic art and technological freedom.

The works are part of the broader programme of events. Two artworks exhibiting are Macalla (2021) from the The Wood Wide Web and It seemed like we were moving closer together from the 2021 solo exhibition Detached Touch.

the logo of the piksel festival in 2021

FIELDS

october 1st 2021 - january 31st 2022 Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), Reading, England

Drawings and stories included in work on show at the Museum of English Rural Life. Three artists are exhibiting, including Michele Allen and Mark Richard Jones.

Other work on show includes academic writing, fieldwork and other public engagement pieces from the 6-university interdisciplinary research project FIELD.

Photograph courtesy FIELD project

an image of some newspapers and prints on a table-top in a busy museum space

17th Athens Digital Arts Festival

september 20th - october 31st 2021 tāctus, Historic Center of Athens, Greece

The film Because the Exchange is Complete will screen at the 17th Athens Digital Arts Festival 2021 edition, which is a blended online and in-person event.

a video still of the title of the film Because The Exchange Is Complete, in pink text on a black background

FIELDS Farming on Film

september 28th, october 21st and november 18th 2021 FIELDS, various locations, England

The film Because the Exchange is Complete will screen at the Hexham Forum Cinema, Hexham (28 Sept), the Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle (21 Oct) and Everyman Cinema, Lincoln (18 Nov) as part of the FIELDS public outreach programme of FIELD, following a 6-month research residency.

a video still of a sheep face looking at the camera, inside a blue triangle that fits around the head neatly

ENTWINED

september 4th-13th 2021 Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC), Highgreen, Northumberland, UK

The two year, multi-partner ENTWINED:Rural.Land.Lives.Art. programme exhibits works by six resident artists curated by Cynthia Morisson Bell (artcircuit)

a photograph of an interactive artwork. The artwork is in the form of a large box, like a table. This photograph shows a long exposure of people moving lights, so light trails are visible in the image. the trails are coming from white tubes held by participants/audience

detached touch

august 13th-september 4th 2021 Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Ireland

Solo exhibition presenting three new interactive and technology-led installations about technology, contact, and more-than-human connections

a photograph of four people standing in front of a large 6-screen video artwork in the shape of a hexagon

FIELDS Markets

august 8th - october 16th 2021 FIELDS, various locations, England

Works about animal and human connections involving lameness and vulnerability presented as part of the public engagement programme of FIELD, following a 6-month research residency.

Sunday 8 August: Nuns Moor Park Bike Garden mini-market
Nuns Moor Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5NU
10am - 2pm

Saturday 28 August: Louth Market
Cornmarket, Louth, LN11 9PD
9am - 4pm

Saturday 11 September: Beverley Market
Market Pl, Beverley, HU17 8EA
8am - 4pm

Saturday 25 September: Hexham Farmers Market
Market Pl, Hexham, NE46 1XQ
9am - 1pm

Saturday 16 October: Grainger Market
Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5QQ
9am - 4pm

a photograph of three people at a market stall with giant cutouts of cows and sheep, and some flyers and photographic material on a table

open studio

april 26th 2021 VARC, Highgreen, Northumberland UK

VARC artists in residence Catriona Gallagher and Shane Finan showing work from the adventurous three-year programme ENTWINED. Rural. Land. Lives. Art. Shane will stage a new interactive performative installation.

a photograph of an interactive artwork. The artwork is in the form of a large box, like a table. This close-up shot only shows some of the left side and the top of the box, and also an opening into the underneath/inside where the side facing us should be. The left side is an abstract painting with mostly dark colours. The top has two tubes placed in it. The underneath shows a series of bluish pipes of light that seem to emanate from the tubes above.