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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5 May 2023
kilkennyobserver.ie
News
Kilkenny BikeFest, 13th and 14th of May
BikeFest returns this year bigger than ever before on the 13th & 14th of May 2023. Growing to a multidiscipline festival, there are more things to experience; test bikes, leisure cycles, sustainability talks, films, food, music and so much more! Cycling Ireland and Kilkenny County Council have teamed up for this free, fun-fuelled programme of events and activities, for the passionate and casual pedlars of all abilities with the Sunday festival supplying activities that the whole
family can enjoy together. Saturday 13th kicks off with “leisure rides” exploring the Kilkenny countryside, departing from the main gates of Kilkenny Castle at 9.15am with our local cycle club, Marble City Cyclers and at 10am with Charlie Parsons, our local community bike ride leader (age group: 18+). That night, we have “Cycling the Change” in Billy Byrne’s. Mary Reynolds, a gold medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show and founder of the global movement:
We Are The ARK will talk on her experiences of rewilding and re-establishing biodiversity in gardens and public spaces. Ireland’s great travel writer, the late Dervla Murphy, will be celebrated with a screening of the documentary of her worldwide travels by bike (age group: 18+). A great night’s entertainment and free event. On Sunday the 14th, starting at 12pm to 4pm, Kilkenny County Council County Hall will be transformed for Bikefest – Fam-
“Roots” – Gallery of Modern Art Waterford Artist – Marco di Sante
Review by Mary Doyle Burke Local Kilkenny artist Marco Di Sante'e exhibition "Roots" was launched last Saturday in GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) in Waterford. Each year GOMA awards selected recent graduates in Ireland with an exhibition. This year graduates of Waterford Institute of Technology & Craw-
ford College of Art and Design Highlighting the wealth of talent graduating annually. The exhibition showcases the work of two emerging artists from across a range of disciplines. The diversity of practice on show combined with a variety of methodologies creates interesting tensions for the viewer. Artists exhibiting as part of this exhibition are MARCO DI
SANTE who lives in Kilkenny & MONIKA KOSMOWSKA who lives in Cork. Marco’s work is multidisciplinary and explores the contemporary relationship between nature and humans. The research is based on the understanding of what nature is and what our role is in it. Ancient and modern cultures inform Marco’s practice surrounded by organic and arti-
the more technical builda-bike workshops. Our well-being area offers free yoga sessions, drumming workshops, storytelling, sound journeys and workshops from our local food and craft producers. Kitty Scully, the renowned organic gardener, and Maura Brennan, founder of The Acorn Project, will join us for conversations on restoring biodiversity and organic growing. The weekend will be brought to a close with some lively tunes from our local traditional musicians! visitkilkenny.ie/bikefest .” An Cathaoirleach, Pat Fitzpatrick, a keen cyclist,
ily Day, a celebration of cycling and sustainability for all the family. Arrive early for our Slow Roll, a fun, slow cycle through the city for all wheels, abilities and bikes, leaving County Hall at 12 noon. We would particularly love to see any upcycled, weird and wonderful bikes! For cyclists of all abilities, there are leisure rides, family cycles, balance bikes, learn to cycle, obstacle courses, mountain bikes and off-road zones. Workshops are planned for bike maintenance and
ficial elements. The response is often shaped by sculptural abstract representations of the happenings related to the living organisms cultivated in the studio. The idea of space and its use is structured in his method of work in order to create installations combining traditional and nontraditional disciplines and techniques. Marco’s passion for photography helps to document the process and create photographic works. Speaking to Marco on Saturday before the launch, he gave an insight into his work and process “My Environment is created by combining multiple materials, techniques and technologies. Nature is at the core of the living sculpture, which I have grown and cultivated within this installation work. From the beginning of this project, I aimed to create a physical relationship between me and the tiny intimate living organisms that I manually hydrated daily in the soil that I dug from my local neighbourhood in Kilkenny, that now nurtures and hosts a variety of living organisms within the soil. I made this installation with the intention of emphasising the unchallenging power of nature against human’s continual interference within it. Nature’s powerful impact upon our daily existence is reflected within the decay-
is delighted to see Bike Fest return to County Hall. “This is a fun opportunity for everyone to try all types of cycling. Cycling is a great way to get around but it also brings a smile to people’s faces, young and old. The Active Travel investment programme will provide the infrastructure that’s needed to ensure everyone can enjoy cycling in safety.” Bike Fest is just one of the events scheduled in Kilkenny for Bike Week. The full listing is available here. Bike Week is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority.
ing and renewal process now evident within the installation. This could also be seen as an act of self-care and selfpreservation carried out by Nature itself against us. This process is physical and material as well as emotional. My Environment offers the chance for the viewer to contemplate and reflect their symbiotic relationship to environments and nature’s vulnerability. While emphasising the importance of reconnection, change and care.” Marco went on to quote Ernst Fischer to further explain his concept and his outlook on art and the world “In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable and
help to change it.” Marco was born in Sora (Italy). He moved to Ireland’s capital in 2010 and has been living in Kilkenny since 2013. He recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Visual Art from SETU Waterford and his final work was long-listed for RDS Visual Art Awards and selected for GOMA Graduate Award Exhibition which will take place on 29th April 2023 in Waterford City. He is currently attending his first year MFA at NCAD Dublin. The exhibition runs from April 28th to May 29th. Also this coming Saturady Marco Di Sante's will display work in "Bigger Than Us", the upcoming 1st Year NCAD MFA group exhibition at Rua Red, Dublin from 5th-16th May.
