Savage Beauty

Savage Beauty (2020)
Kari Kola Light Artist (FI)
Produced by Kate Howard
Commissioned and presented by Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture 

Described as “a savage beauty” by Oscar Wilde, Connemara is rural Ireland at its most dramatic and served as the inspiration for the internationally-acclaimed Finnish light artist Kari Kola. Kola’s installation of 1,000 lights spread over a distance of 5 kilometres, transformed the Ceann Garbh mountainside overlooking Loch na Fuaiche situated in north Connemara. In this remote location, Kari Kola and his team created his largest site-specific artwork to date  – a light installation that lit up the wild landscape in spectacular fashion.  Initially planned as a public event from 14-17 March, in light of the restrictions in place in response to Covid-19, Savage Beauty artwork was made available as a special digital edition.

Savage Beauty is a continuation of Kola’s exploration and interest in highlighting some of the world’s most ancient and monumental sites – from the sacred Saana Mountain Finland, Stonehenge UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Image credit:  Cormac McMahon and Christopher Lund. Video Credit:  Janne Tapio Media, courtesy of Galway 2020.