Surface
Is an experimental short film and sound composition that invites viewers on an evocative journey through Lough Hyne, Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve. Starting from the highest mountain summit, the film descends into ancient mountain canyons now submerged by the loch. It explores the serene shores of the lough, plunges the depths of the 50-foot trench beneath its surface, and follows the water’s path through Whirlpool Cliff before flowing through the Whirlpool Rapids—a narrow channel created and built by the local people in times of famine and maintained until today - out to the open sea. The film captures the rich soundscape of each setting, from the whispering winds at the mountain’s crest to the deep, resonant tones beneath the lough, and the dynamic currents o f the cliff and rapids. "Surface" melds striking visuals with a textured auditory experience, exploring the deep connection between nature and human impact. This journey encourages reflection on our environmental footprint and invites viewers to reconnect with the natural world.
The film Confluence was first created for a selected group exhibition with Shore Collective, where it was shown alongside other site-responsive and environmentally focused works.
The film was later recontextualised and presented as part of the Pathways exhibition at the University of Atypical, where it was accompanied by an audio description, making it accessible to a wider audience.
https://universityofatypical.org/gallery/whats-on/pathways/
This work was born during a residency at Lough Hyne, where I conducted field recordings, film work, and mapped the surrounding landscape. The residency provided a deep, reflective time in the environment, and the film emerged as part of that ongoing process.
As a companion to the film, I also created a My Map of Lough Hyne, which tracks the routes and key moments of that residency. This map was featured in a blog published by the residency organisers, offering further insight into the journey.
https://uillinnwestcorkartscentre.blogspot.com/search?q=julie+mcgowan
To see the full story, visit the blog post and explore the My Map.
https://uillinnwestcorkartscentre.blogspot.com/2023/09/casting-sounding-out-lough-hyne.html