connections

'connections' is an exhibition featuring the Mandala Public Art Projects and a large-scale installation artwork created by artist Marie Flaherty for her masters project at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. The exhibition takes place at Catalyst Arts Gallery, Belfast and runs from Jan 7th - 14th 2013. Opening night Jan 7th at 6pm, closing ceremony night 14th Jan from 6pm - 8pm. 

connections

…a space for activity and contemplation, a transitory space symbolising the notion of impermanence. Each person who enters has the choice of leaving his or her mark behind through the use of text, manipulating the arrangement of objects, lighting a flame or creating music.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition the space will change and evolve. Each day the artist will introduce new materials into the space for the viewer to interact with.

On the opening night the space will light up as those who enter, light a flame in the ceramic bowls laid out on the floor of the project space.

Throughout the week these bowls will be filled with different materials and visitors can make their own artworks within the parameter of the circular installation piece. Visitors will be allowed to write messages or draw on the bowls with pencils.

For the closing night Marie has invited percussionist Michael Speers to conduct an instrumental performance using the objects within the space. There will be an opportunity for those who attend the event to participate in this musical performance also. It will then be followed by a fire ceremony during which Marie will invite people to place the ceramic bowls into the fire to be transformed.

As suggested by the Buddhists, nothing is lasting, even in the moment everything is undergoing change.  All is fleeting, the beauty of a flower, the sunset, the leaves on the trees are in a continuous state of change. The closing ceremony is a celebration of this change and of the endless connections that exist in and around us.

Opening night at Catalyst Arts Gallery

Photographed by Suzan Inan