‘FLOW’ Exhibition Comes Ashore in Clare

Combining photography, projection mapping, soundscape, and workshops, the project will officially open in Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee and Súil Gallery in Ennis from 7:30pm on October 7 and 10 respectively, with free admission.

A creation of French photographer Carl Cordonnier and production company Dailylife, ‘FLOW’ explores the impact of rising waters in Ireland’s Shannon Estuary and France’s Baie de Somme, based on scientific forecasts from Climate Central and confirmed in Ireland by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

For the past two years, Cordonnier has explored the Shannon Estuary, following the potential path of the water from today’s coastline to its possible future, producing two visual cartographies that mirror French and Irish territories at risk. At the intersection of photography and moving image, the work challenges our perceptions of territory and our ability to anticipate its transformation.

Visitors will experience a poetic visual immersion, with video mapping projected onto suspended fabric sails, evoking the movement of the estuary’s shifting shores. The Irish series also highlights the role of women encountered along the estuary in positions of protection and surveillance of the territory.

Complementing the visuals, a specially commissioned soundscape by Hugo Cordonnier, inspired by local and international voices of women and landscapes, features violinist Madalina Obreja and Clare harpist Astrid Adler. The digital installation, co-created with French artist Sandra Suire, explores contemporary uses of photography and AI, it is eco-designed, participatory, and adaptable to diverse contexts.

Workshops in photography and digital arts will invite participants to imagine their territory in 2100. Their contributions will be integrated into a wider European project.

Alongside ‘FLOW’, the French Embassy and Dublin City University will host the conference ‘10 Years On: the legacy of the Paris Climate Change Agreement’ on October 8 to reflect on progress and future challenges.

Commenting on the project, French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place said, “The French Embassy is proud to present ‘FLOW’ with our Irish partners. Art has the power to make us see what science tells us: our coastlines are changing. ‘FLOW’ invites us to imagine the future and to act together. This project not only raises awareness of the sea-level rising, but also strengthens cultural dialogue and cooperation between France and Ireland at a pivotal moment, as we mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.”

For more information, visit: https://ie.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/flow-shannon-estuary-2023-2100-projection-mapping-photographic-exhibition-workshops