An Artist, The Studio, and all the rest…
An Artist, The Studio, and all the rest… takes the form of two beautifully crafted film projections with sound produced and directed by the visual artist John Beattie over a period from 2006 to 2012. Beattie explores the relationship between traditional academic ideas of the artist and their practice and contemporary approaches to art making. Beattie’s work raises complex questions as to how we, on the other side of the 20th century experimentation, may integrate and value the traditional.
To commence this research he approached Thomas Ryan, a past president of the RHA, and they created a Master/Apprentice collaboration. The first film is shot in Ryan’s studio and is a meditation on the craft and methodologies employed by an artist working in the academic vein.
For the second film Beattie appropriated Gustav Courbet’s The Artist’s Studio, 1854/55, and staged a recreation of the image in The Great Hall, at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. For the tableaux he invited artists, and representatives of the cultural institutions in Ireland to pose for this carefully choreographed re-staging. It is a theatrical and thought provoking spectacle on how one unpicks and understands the creative process.
The artist would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Arts Council/An Chomairle Ealaionn in the making of this work. Also thanks to the Artist’s Studio Residency Programme at IMMA, and Fire Station Artists’ Studios.
- Patrick Murphy, Director of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin.
Part One & Part Two video stills
(All images below are © John Beattie - unless otherwise stated)
PART ONE PREVIEW
An Artist, The Studio, and all the rest… Part One: colour video with surround sound, 3 min preview (13mins original), 2006-2012. Hennessy Portrait Prize finalist at The National Gallery of Ireland.
(Edition of 3 with 1 A.P. )
PART TWO PREVIEW
An Artist, The Studio, and all the rest… Part Two: colour video with surround sound, 3 min preview (8 mins original), 2006-2012.
(Edition no.1 of 3 collection of the Arts Council of Ireland)
AN ARTIST, THE STUDIO, AND ALL THE REST…
PART ONE & PART TWO PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY JOHN BEATTIE (2006-2012)
PART ONE CREDITS
Acknowledgements:
The Artist Residency Program IMMA, Fire Station Artists' Studios, The Office of Public works, The Royal Hibernian Academy, NIVAL at NCAD, and The Arts Council Ireland. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland Project and Bursary Awards. A special note of gratitude to Mary, and to the Ryan family, for allowing me into your home and develop this work with Tom during those years. It was a privilege.
Cast:
Thomas Ryan, Past President of the RHA, 1927-2021; with John Beattie.
Crew:
DOP's:
Kevin Hughes & Piers McGrail
FOCUS PULLER:
Narayan Van Meale
LIGHTING:
Mark Murray Teachsolais
CAMERA ASSISTANTS:
John Mulhern, Cormac O'Brien
VOICE ACTOR:
Gerry O'Brien
AUDIO PRODUCTION:
Jimmy Eadie: Asylum Recording Studios
Sonic Recording Studios, Dublin.
POST PRODUCTION:
EDITOR & FINAL CUT: John Beattie
SCREEN SCENE:
Colourist: Gary Curran , Graphics: Hubert Montag, Sound Design: Ken Galvin, Online editor: Warren Dowling.
WINDMILL LANE:
Authoring: Ian O'Brien
PART TWO CREDITS
Acknowledgements:
The Artist Residency Program IMMA, Fire Station Artists' Studios, The Office of Public works, The Royal Hibernian Academy, and The Arts Council Ireland. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland Project and Bursary Awards.
A note to all the cast in this scene: “That was a special night. There was something in the air. I am so very grateful to you all for your trust, your time, and for agreeing to be part of this work. It was a major night for me, and you were all brilliant. Thank you.”
Cast:
(right to left)
Colm Toibin, Chris Flynn, Stephanie O'Callaghan, Rayne Booth, Rachael Gilbourne, Caoimhin Mac Giolla Leith, Eugene Downes, Stephen McKenna, Carey Clarke, Des Mac Mahon, Mick O'Dea, Amanda Coogan, Tom Ryan, Etain Nollen, Mary Begley, Marcin Wadowice, Noel Kelly, Mike Fitzpatrick, Ruairi O'Cuiv, David Trunk, Antoinette Emo, Christian Reeves, Craig Starkey, Cillian Hayes, Michael Nolan, Bobbie Bryne, Mick Rafferty, Mark St. John Ellis, James Kelly.
Crew:
DOP: Kevin Hughes 4K RED
STEADICAM OPERATOR: Torquil Fleming Boyd
PRESTON REMOTE FOCUS CONTROL: Narayan Van Meale
LIGHTING: Mark Murray & TeachSolais
CAMERA ASSISTANT: Cormac O'Brien
FLOOR MANAGEMENT: Irina Duarte, Amy Stephens, Ruth Clinton, Niamh Moriarty, John Mulhern, Jimmy Kelly
DOCUMENTATION: Guy Robbins
STRING QUARTET: Karen Dervan (Viola), Lioba Petrie (Cello), Catherine Humpfreys (Violin), Larrisa O Grady (Violin)
SOPRANO SINGER: Donna Malone
Post-Production:
EDITOR & FINAL CUT: John Beattie
SOUND: Jimmy Eadie Asylum Studios and Sonic Recording Studios
SCREEN SCENE: Colourist: Gary Curran , Graphics: Hubert Montag, Sound Design: Ken Galvin, Online editor: Warren Dowling,
WINDMILL LANE: Blu Ray Authoring: Ian O'Brien