Lithograph-Construction & Reconstruction.

 

Through Lithography the idea of deconstruction and reconstruction is explored through the imagery of scaffolding from an unfinished site in Limerick City. The image incorporates the symbol of the crucifix which represents death and resurrection. These dead buildings bring our attention to the structural stresses in modern day society caused by excess & misplaced values. A product of which is the high cost to the individual as can be seen by Mental Health and Suicide issues which are unsupported by the system and largely ignored.



Litho Proof

Etching Elysian!

Removing sections of grid & Layering a photo I took of the Elysian with one of a derelict building and the stock markets!

Layers of Corruption.

Back to college & Headlines!

Brief one: headlines & Stories! For the past few years, our everyday has been flooded with headlines related to the collapse of the economy. I wanted to use architecture to represent the corruption and just how ridiculous it all got during the boom. We are now surrounded by derelict buildings boarded up and deteriorating.

The first building I focused on was the Elysian in Cork. For me this represents the first time I really started to think-this is all a bit ridiculous! In 2008 our Architecture class was taken on a tour of the tower & building site, this building was to be “a beacon of light, for a new dawn”. On the tour, as all the extravagant materials were being explained to us and as we were casually told about it going 9m over budget I remember thinking, how can this last? Everything was so excessive, like all the other buildings being built, they all looked the same, nothing imaginative, it was just a case of get them up quickly and make as much as you can. There was no logic.

Now this building is owned by Nama, the only few apartments which were sold had to be bought back because it cost more to run the building then they made from selling them! Below is some photos I took of the tower in preparation for my etching.

And so began my obsession with photographing derelict buildings!