Laya Meabhdh Kenny

Tracing Light

In this body of work, I delve into a personal journey brought on by witnessing my father's illness. This period prompted a need within me to symbolically restart the year on a Midsummer morning to reestablish a sense of order and control in my life. Tracing Light is a photographic project where I map the movement of the sun during sunrise on midsummer morning from the east over Lough Gur lake, moving west finishing in the nearby stone circle with a diptych of images taken just seconds apart.   

The install consists of two large prints displayed within a lightbox to epmphisise the important role that light plays in  my work. The stillness that I seek and often find in photographic work is juxtaposed here against the dynamic chaos evident in the accompanying video piece. Lough Gur, a place that has long captivated my imagination, features prominently in my work. There, the landscape is seemingly untouched by time, offering a perpetual stillness that becomes particularly poignant during life's tumultuous periods. It is a place where the physical and metaphysical realms converge, enhancing my awareness and grounding me in the present. This body of work is not just an artistic endeavor but a vital personal ritual. Through my art, I invite viewers to pause, reflect, and find a moment of peace amid the chaos of the world.