SHADOWING THE ARCHIVES (2021-2023)
To mark the State Decade of Centenaries Programme 2021-2023, the National Archives of Ireland (NAI) invited proposals from visual artists to engage with material relating to the period 1921-1923 in Irish cultural, social, and political history. John Beattie was awarded Artist in Residence at the NAI where for two years he collaborated with the archives to explore new perspectives on archival State material and topics. This process culminated in the making of a new body of work and exhibition Shadowing the Archives, first exhibited at Dublin Castle in 2023. The exhibition featured a double-rear video-projection installation, with surround sound. The exhibition also featured a series of assemblages with newly produced photographs placed alongside authentic archival material, selected and loaned from the National Archives. Examples of this work including video stills from the film and the installation at Dublin Castle, can be viewed below.
Funded by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Click on link below to read the press release issued by the Department of the Arts and The National Archives:
Double-projection video stills
(All images below are © John Beattie - unless otherwise stated)
SHADOWING THE ARCHIVES solo exhibition Dublin Castle 2023:
Video installation (room one)
Double rear video-projection installation with surround sound, duration 23mins, 2023.
SHADOWING THE ARCHIVES solo exhibition Dublin Castle 2023:
Assemblages (room two)
The contents of each “assemblage” is outlined in the images below including the N.A. reference code.
SHADOWING THE ARCHIVES (2021-2023)
VIDEO
Shadowing the Archives, double video projection, with surround sound, duration 23mins, produced and directed by the visual artist John Beattie 2021-2023 © John Beattie.
SHADOWING THE ARCHIVES (2021-2023)
Produced & Directed by John Beattie
Acknowledgements:
The National Archives of Ireland: Director of the N.A. Orlaith McBride, Zoe Reid, Karen Downey, and all staff at the N.A.; The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; The Office of Public Works; Dublin Castle; The Irish Aikido Federation, Dublin: President & chief Aikido instructor Mr. Seán MacRuairí Shihan, 7th Dan, and Cathal MacRuairí; The Macken Street Dojo Aikido Members: Delta Dickenson, Adam Ralph, Eoin de Buitlear, Catherine Murphy, Colm de Buitlear, Pawel Drewniak, Monami Ito, Declan Carney, Machiek Wachadlo, Hanne Fisker; Dr. Sean Beattie and Louise Ward.
Crew:
Assistant DoP: Kevin Hughes; Steadicam operator: Tim Hood; Phantom Camera: Theo Jebb; Jenny Jib: Cyril O’Regan & Marek Wargola; Focus Puller: JJ O’Sullivan; Camera Assistant: Emma Swift; Generator Operator: Stephen McGuigan; Gaffer: Brendan Comerford.
Post-Production:
Edit, final cut, colour grade, sound and sound master mix by John Beattie
Suppliers:
Riverside TV, Vast Valley, Teach Solais, Sonder Visuals, Eidotech (Berlin).