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Emma Brennan
Q&A with Emma
What was the motivation behind your work?
I am concerned with finding balance within the contradictions of the transient and the fixed. Through process-based methods, I explore the space between the two, where magic and ritual, landscape and the body all fold in on one another. These works concern feminist readings of a Pagan Ireland, exploring the ritualistic, mythological and traditional practices through testing with performance to camera and photography while on residency in rural Ireland.
Why do you think heritage skills are important?
The preservation of Heritage, in my opinion, is essential t our understanding of our identity and histories. On the back of these skills, contemporary makers can make informed contributions to local, national and international cultural discourse. I also think it is essential for our generation to question and challenge these skills and in how and who is charting our heritage to ensure our true histories are in public discourse and not skewed by socio-political agendas.
What do you think of the Ulster Folk Museum?
The interactive user experience of the Ulster Folk Museum I find really engaging. I think the curation of this show to marry this historical site and contemporary makers in Northern Ireland is incredibly exciting and relevant for the site to reach new audiences.
Biography
Emma Brennan is an interdisciplinary artist based between Dublin and Belfast. The core of her practice is in the cyclical processes of breathing and living is formed upon the pillars of; gestation, birth, life and death. These moments centered on the female body are within a specific context of Ireland. Emma’s research explored methods around space where making and ritural, landscape and the body fold into one another. Feminist readings of ancient Ireland explore traditional practices, mythology through the space in which she occupies.
Emma Brennan is a contributing artist with Array Collective, performing at The Druthaib’s Ball ‘The Night Draws Near’ at Ulster Museum in 2023 alongside collaborator Méabh Meir, as well as ‘The Sky Gives Way’ a winter solstice performance at The Giant’s Ring. Her Recent solo projects include ‘GIRLÍN’ at PS2 gallery space, Belfast in 2023 and as part of Vox HyBrida with Alice Maher and Chloe Austin at Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast in 203.
Emma is a previous chairperson and co-director of Catalyst Arts and BBeyond’s performance collective’s new commissioned artist in 2021. She has performed as part of multiple festivals and exhibitions including Belfast International Festival of Performance Art (BIFPA); Live Art Biennial Ireland; FIX21, Belfast and Black Kit Performance Archive in Cologne. Emma’s upcoming projects include collaboration with Manchan Magan’s upcoming book, Brille Bhreaille published in October 2023.
The Home Road
These early apples are tasting sweeter than they should.
Prematurely plucked from curling barks & entwining limbs,
they’ll soon be caught in the nettled tarp,
with a sting that's sweet and sweeter still,
from the hand of Eve.
That cut nailed serpent,
They’ve been measuring magic potions among their good graces.
Three, to be exact.
While our tail bones bruised the sun riddled steps,
and we willed the birds to bathe.
Instead, they mock me from my lemon room,
I feel their bitter call through adjoining walls.
That flirtatious scent of peat lined water
calls upon our five side field,
where the fruits roll forth, toward the home road
just a blade of grass, out of reach.
Written while on residency at Live Art Ireland, Milford house, Borrisokane, Tipperary in Summer 2022.
Where there was the nude, truly. In every sense.
Embraced by the breeze, absorbing the sultry mid Summer sun, this was a space to occupy stillness, silence, the blankness of time.
These spaces are gifts, very much appreciated. Even more so was the deeply intense connections with all the occupants, humans and animals alike. With myself too. I carry it still. ’’ - Emma Brennan
