Entirely hollow aside from the dark

Entirely hollow aside from the dark is an immersive 19-32 channel psychoacoustic sound event taking place inside ancient natural auditoriums carved into the underbelly of earth’s crust. Using the cave as a physical metaphor for the mind, the cavern personifies the consciousness of Earth as she struggles with her worsening mental health brought on by humanity’s distressing of her body. In the darkness, an audible inner dialogue echoing Mother Earth’s thoughts and regrets unfolds and a symphony of choreographed sounds shifts around the cave, mirroring processes of the human mind. Entirely hollow aside from the dark aims to simultaneously break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage environmental sustainability. Entirely hollow aside from the dark was created with writer Sue Rainsford and sound editor Ian Dunphy.

Entirely hollow aside from the dark has been exhibited: Within Ireland (2016-17) Portrane, Dublin; Keash Cave, Sligo; Aillwee Cave, Clare; Like Hill Cave, Skibbereen Cork; Core Funded by Arts Council of Ireland and Creative Ireland.

Internationally (2017-19) Creswell Crags Cave, England; Pollnagollum Cave, Boho Waterfall, Northern Ireland funded by the Arts Council of England, Culture Ireland and Department of the Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht This artwork was originally commissioned by Fingal County Council Arts Office in 2016.

"I found the installation had a perhaps surprising effect on me. Normally it is me who feels, sometimes all too strongly, and nature who gives me respite, calm and tranquillity. So to enter into Mother Earth and hear her anguish was a sort of reversal of this. I felt fetal. But also, I felt at times as if I am made of earth, stone, water. And because Mother Earth was doing the feeling, I wasn't feeling. I was inert. Calm. A peaceful emotional blank." RB

“As I left that cave I felt in disarray and confused about what had just happened. How could an installation of such simplicity, using audio, sound shifts and sensory deprivation, really make me feel so deeply as if I have just single-handedly beenthrough all that trauma of Mother Earth’s damage. As I left that cave it imparted this realisation that many of us lack the true reality of every man’s greed and that thought isn’t just a notion of dialogue but something that can impart such force, supremacy and control over us that can really deteriorate every man’s self.” KC, Student

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Artist and Producer: AlanJames Burns
Writer: Sue Rainsford
Composer: Ian Dunphy
Voice Artist: Caitríona Ní Mhurchú
Project Coordinator: Marek Wolynski
Public Art Coordinator, Fingal County Council: Caroline Cowley
Creswell Crags Project Coordinator: Rebecca Buck, Paul Baker, Kat Middleton
Administration: Helen Kellegher, Emer Lynch, Ciara McKeon, Silivia Poppmeier, Lisa Freeman, Maeve O’Flaherty
Technicians: Hugh McGettigan, Marek Wolynski, Sinead Spring, Ailbhe O'Connor, Adam Gibney, Roberta Murray, Michelle Hall
Website Design: Cathal Sherlock
Marketing: Sabrina Sheehan, Mission PR, Albany PR, Pyper PR
Photography: Trevor Whelan, Marek Wolynski, Brian Cregan, Gary Teeling
Video: Little Wolf Media; Composition for video: Ian Dunphy, Michael O'Riordan

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Creswell CragsWorksop, Nottinghamshire; 3-7 September 2019
Supported by Arts Council England and Culture Ireland.

Pollnagollum Cave, Boho Waterfall, Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark
Cross-border Cavan-Fermanagh; 29 September 2017
Supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cavan County Council, Cavan Arts Office, Creative Cavan, Creative Ireland, Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark, Boho Community Association.

Smuggler’s Cave Tower Bay Beach, Portrane, Co. Dublin; 10, 11, 12, and 13 September 2017
In conjunction with Fingal County Council's Arts Office's Resort Revelations Programme at the Bleeding Pig Festival and supported by Lynders Mobile Home Park, Portrane.

Aillwee CaveThe Burren, Co. Clare; 24 and 25 August 2017
In conjunction with Heritage Week, supported by Aillwee Cave, Clare Arts Office, Clare Heritage Office, Creative Ireland, Burren College Of Art, Burren and Cliffs Of Moher Geopark

Caves of Keash Keshcorran Co. Sligo; 27, 28, and 29 July 2017
In conjunction with Tread Softly Festival, supported by Sligo County Council, Sligo Arts Service, Creative Ireland, The Fox’s Den Public House.

Lickhill CaveSkibbereen Co. Cork; 2 and 3 August 2017
In conjunction with Skibbereen Arts Festival, supported by Cork Arts Office, Cork County Council.

Smuggler’s Cave Tower Bay Beach, Portrane, Co. Dublin; 6 and 7 September 2016
In conjunction with Fingal County Council's Arts Office's Resort Revelations Programme at the Bleeding Pig Festival and supported by Lynders Mobile Home Park, Portrane.