Unearthing Memory - Siobhan McDonald’s Artistic Dialogue with Nature
Merging Science and Art - Siobhan McDonald’s Collaboration with Terraform in BOGSKIN
Siobhan McDonald’s latest work explores the intricate balance between preservation and decay, drawing inspiration from the bog ecosystems that have safeguarded organic matter for centuries. Working in collaboration with Terraform, she engaged with leading ecological research and material preservation techniques to deepen the scientific foundation of the project. Their expertise provided critical insights into the anaerobic conditions that allow materials such as sphagnum moss, peat, and decaying plant matter to endure over time, mirroring the way the Faddan More Psalter was preserved within the bog.
As part of this process, Siobhan utilized the cutting-edge facilities of the Variable Atmosphere and Light (VAL) laboratory at Trinity College Dublin. The VAL Lab’s advanced plant growth chambers, designed to control light intensity, spectra, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition, enabled her to cultivate and study plant materials under precisely simulated environmental conditions. This scientific approach allowed for an innovative integration of organic materials and artistic expression, reinforcing the themes of memory, transformation, and impermanence within her work.
Further supported by Terraform’s ERC-funded research, Siobhan incorporated experimental methods to investigate the interplay of light, organic matter, and time. These techniques expanded the possibilities of her practice, pushing the boundaries of material exploration while maintaining a strong connection to ecological and historical narratives.
The results of this research and artistic exploration are currently on display at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts in Dublin. Her latest exhibition, BOGSKIN, is open to the public until April 20th 2025, offering a unique opportunity to experience the interplay of science, art, and the fragile ecosystems that inspire her work.
Looking ahead, Siobhan will continue her collaboration with Terraform as she embarks on a new project examining Dublin’s coastline as a wetland. This work will form part of the upcoming STARTS4Water II residencies, furthering her engagement with environmental themes and the passage of time in shifting landscapes.
For more information on Siobhan’s work, please visit: https://www.siobhanmcdonald.com/
TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025
TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025
The 68th Irish Geoscience Research Meeting (IGRM2025) was held at Trinity College Dublin from February 28th – March 2nd. The meeting included a session on palaeoclimate, at which several project TERRAFORM researchers showcased their current work and scientific advancements. Dr William J. Matthaeus presented his talk titled, Trait-Based Palaeo–Ecosystem Simulations Reveal Shifting Forest Cover Across the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis, highlighting the exciting potential of utilising plant fossil trait data in deep-time ecosystem modelling. PhD candidates Antonietta B. Knetge and Catarina Barbosa also presented talks on the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis. Knetge presented her study Palaeoecology and Diversity Loss During the End–Triassic Event at South Tancrediakløft, East Greenland, and Barbosa presented How Counting Method Influences the Interpretation of Plant Palaeoecological Data. Barbosa received an honorable mention for best student presentation. E. Blanka Kovács gave a talk on her research about secondary controls on the natural mercury cycle during large-scale volcanic events, titled Astronomical modulation of enhanced environmental mercury (Hg) fluxes during early Toarcian LIP volcanism. TERRAFORM members have benefited from engaging with Earth scientists from global and regional communities. IGRM is a critical venue for fostering collaborations in Ireland’s emerging geosciences community.
by Antonietta Knetge and Blanka Kovacs
Liffey Sensing - Art & Science Workshop
Art, Science, and the River - Siobhán McDonald’s Liffey Sensing Workshop
Project TERRAFORM’s artist-in-residence, Siobhán McDonald held a Liffey Sensing Workshop on February 18th to communicate her work with the European Union-funded STARTS4Water. McDonald is the STARTS4Water ambassador for Ireland, representing the river Liffey globally to contribute an artistic perspective to hydrologic science and technology in response to the drastic effects of climate change on our water systems. The Liffey Sensing workshop encouraged the attendees to artistically connect to the river Liffey and explore the river’s significance environmentally and socially. TERRAFORM PhD researcher Antonietta Knetge also attended and gave a brief presentation on the origins of the Liffey within the Wicklow mountains, the importance of the geology that supports the system, and Ireland’s rich geologic and fossil history. The attendees then created art inspired by the sounds and scents of the Liffey using marine herbarium specimens and local coastal sediment collected by McDonald. The photographs here illustrate the workshop and the incredible works by Artist Siobhán McDonald for the STARTS4Water project.
Project links:
https://starts.eu/starts4water-ii-residencies/
https://starts.eu/siobhan-mcdonald-shapeshifter/
by Antonietta Knetge
