We started into our second week on the island full of enthusiasm for our notions and ideas. We started by exploring ideas of bringing contemporary movement into places we had found on the island. We experimented with moving in windows we found in ruins, and visual windows in the shipwreck. It felt like we were really touching onto something beautiful and profound.
Enter Aoife Carry, an absolute delight of a human, and a mentoring force to reckoned with.
After bringing her around the island and showing her our spots and concepts, we quickly realised we were somewhat deluding ourselves, and that we were going to need to dig deeper to find an idea that was going to keep our interests. We were both feeling a bit unsure as to where to look next. After a few short movement exercises, and throwing a few ideas around, Aoife casually dropped something into the mix.
It was… different. Juicy. Big. Pointless. A notion so harebrained that upon hearing it, we simply couldn’t not do it. It hit everything we wanted to look at – movement patterns, phenomenology, working culture, the particulars of the island’s landscape. It would allow us to engage with the community, and work outdoors.
“What if you measured the total length of all the stone walls on the island?”
No measurement currently exists for the island, and Google offers a variety of opinions. The locals we’ve asked thus far have been resistant to giving an answer, and guesses currently range from 250 – 3000miles.
We are now undertaking an endeavour to measure the total length of the dry stone walls on Inis Oírr, tied together on a 10m piece of string, marked in 10 cm increments. We’re treating it as a durational research, performance piece and community engagement project.
In light of this insane endeavour, we are pushing our showing of work back by a day to the 25th of October. Apologies to anyone who already made plans, we hope this doesn’t affect you. You’re very welcome to come and help us measure on Friday of course. We want you!
Foclóir
- Tomhais – Measure/guess
- Chlaíocha cloch – Dry Stone Wall
- Éasca – Fast (Inis Oírr)
- Sciopaidh – Quick (Inis Oírr)
- Caonach – Moss
- Caonach liath – mould
- Goirt – Salty
- Tóg go reachta é – Take it easy
- Togha – Grand