Aoise Tutty Jackson
19 September to 9 November, 2019

During this residency, Aoise will develop her work in two main areas. The first will be to research and explore how to further utilise the 'lens' as a means for transformation and healing. The power of the gaze has long been discussed in relation to film and photography, but the potential to turn this into a conscious tool in order to shift negative imprints, patterns and power dynamics is something that deserves further attention. Aoise will explore this through researching and developing a project which looks at subject and object. She uses herself and others to experiment with this, laying the foundations for a larger piece of work in this area.

The second will be to develop a film project around the art of listening. Listening is something that our society takes for granted, and yet in many ways the art of listening has been forgotten or buried amidst a huge amount of noise and chaos. 'Deep listening' to ourselves, our families, our friends, our planet, our hearts and our souls is something that can be nurtured within us. This residency will allow a space for research and development of a film titled Listen and invite discussion around this topic. The film will be led by music, song and improvisation in order to tell the stories of its subjects, finding out how they have learned to truly listen in order to deal with their own journeys with mental health, wellbeing and being human on this planet.

Aoise's work as an artist is to capture and interpret the poetry of everyday life. She is interested in the experiential and the ethereal aspects of life. Subjects of mental health, wellbeing and spirituality form a foundation for much of her work to date. Drawing heavily on nature - the sea and contextual landscape - to interpret the human struggle is integral to this process. Exploring these themes through the mediums of film, photography and poetry form the basis for her expression.

Aoise Tutty Jackson’s 15 minute documentary film ‘An Open Door’ premiered in Cork Film Festival 2018 as part of the ‘Best in Cork’ category. It recently won the Community Award at The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, a Silver Remi at WorldFest Houston and was selected as a finalist at The Fastnet Film Festival. Her films have also been selected for London Short Film Festival and Indie Cork Film Festival. She was recently awarded a grant from Cork County Council for an upcoming documentary project called ‘Listen’. Her work has featured in media outlets such as Flaunt Magazine, Vogue Italia, O2 Academy, Novelty Magazine, Rebelle Society and Promonews. She has had photographic and written features published in Well Being and Other Stories, Totally Dublin magazine and South China Morning Post.

WCAC acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Cork County Council in making these residencies possible.