Download Eamonn B. Shanahan is an Irish artist that primarily practices in lens

Eamonn B. Shanahan is an Irish artist that primarily practices in lens
based media. He graduated from the Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork
in June 2014 and is due to begin his Master of Arts at the Royal Central
School of Speech and Drama in London next October. Eamonn is currently
working on the promotion and emanation of his graduate film ‘Workspace’
around the Country.
After an extensive period in Art Therapy during his teens, Eamonn realised
the strength of Art. While in secondary school he never set out to be a
practicing artist. His interest in the arts was ignited from all
directions. These influences came from schooling, genetically and through
his involvement in local Theatre. Eamonn’s work takes on the term ‘Art’ in
its’ broadest capacity in that it engages with the multidiscipline of
painting, the body as a manipulative sculpture through dance and
performance, music, and indeed film and its’ ability to beat the
impossible. Caravaggio, Sergei Diaghilev, Orson Welles, Samuel Beckett,
Maya Deren and numerous others play a significant influence in the work.
"I realized that Joyce had gone as far as one could in the direction of
knowing more, [being] in control of one’s material. He was always adding to
it...I realized that my own way was in impoverishment, in lack of knowledge
and in taking away, in subtracting rather than in adding." Samuel Beckett
Initially as a painter, the work portrayed atmospheric and structural
concepts, dealing with light, depth and movement. The idea of narcissism
and identity evolved within the work. As he went through his third level
education, Eamonn began to work in Photography; it conceptually continued
to be focused on ego, persona, narcissism and the irrelevance of time and
space. In his photography, Eamonn set out to illustrate the contrast
between perception and reality through the movement of the body and the
manipulation of the camera. In college Eamonn adapted modules in Digital
Video Production and lectures in Film consequently his work moved almost
entirely to film. Using this mechanism Eamonn could obtain the
collaboration and choreography of the major art disciplines including
music, theatre, art and film.
Endorsing film as a medium allowed Eamonn to have a very objective
perspective on his work. As a director and filmmaker, Eamonn’s process is
very extensive. The actors he uses, professional or otherwise, go through a
workshop process that involves a very methodical and subconscious approach.
Eamonn’s filmmaking process would be similar to Beckett’s in that each
sequence is precisely structured. Cinematography and lighting are very
important to the process as they create the atmosphere in an otherwise
absent environment. This allows interpretation and ambiguity enabling
viewers to engage deeper into the work.
In society the role of the artist is to create a language tool that can
accessible to everyone no matter who they are or where they come from. It
gives people a different perspective on the world as well as allowing
artists to voice their opinion and tell their story.
Eamonn will have a solo exhibition at Alliance Francaise Cork during the
month of September. This exhibition is entitled after the featured film,
‘Workspace’. The film will be accompanied by a presentation of stills.
‘Workspace’ is a short film that was made in early 2014. It features a
strong cast including Eoin Cannon, Lucy Tobin, Eoghan Moloney, Maeve
Guilfoyle and Ryan Grace. The score for the piece was written by Cork
composer John O' Brien and is performed by percussionist Alex Petcu.
‘Workspace’ is a short film that looks at the perception of reality and
explores the trigger of the distorted mind.
You can find more information about Eamonn on his website
at www.eamonnshanahan.com. ‘Workspace’ opens at Alliance Francaise Cork on
the 4th of September 2014 and will run for three weeks. For more details on
the ‘Workspace’ tour visit www.workspacethefilm.com.