ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE‘SCULPTURE IN WOOD’ EXHIBIT
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE‘SCULPTURE IN WOOD’ EXHIBITION AT THE PHOENIX PARK VIS
When I first heard of plans to stage this exhibition – this tribute to three decades of woodturning by Liam O’Neill – I was very taken by the idea of creating life out of something that no longer lived in its original state – of the concept of metamorphosis, if you like - whereby something that had run its course and fulfilled its mission – should shed its outer cladding to reveal a totally new life form – with a new viability and existence – and appealing to a different set of senses – “revealing the beauty within” as the exhibition is titled.
I got a preview of Liam’s work in the RDS last year – and I have been intrigued ever since. Looking around me this morning – I clearly see that I have been vindicated in that interpretation of what Liam O’Neill has been doing in his productive and creative work over the last thirty years. Here we have a collection of vessels and platters – each with its own unique identity – its own personality – ‘revealed’ by Liam in his workshop in Spiddal. It’s as though he has liberated them from their mortal prisons – and given them a whole new meaning and purpose – as though they were meant to be what they are. That he has been able to do this at all – is a measure of his great ability and experience – his great creative mind. Each tree has its own characteristics and its own limitations. The handling of trees like the Redwood, the Oak, the Spanish Chestnut, the Cherry, the Yew, the Ash, the Holly, the Sycamore and the Beech – all of these have their own personalities - and require their own style of treatment.
His work on display represents more than just thirty years as a woodturner. It reflects his own creative ability which has been tempered by the technical limitations of his materials and his woodturning equipment – all of which has given him the trained eye – to see what lies within a felled tree – to ‘visualise’ how he will uncover the hidden secret that lies within. Every work is an adventure – a challenge to him – to carefully strip and peel away the outer casing - and to use the natural form of the timer as a means to achieving the birth of a beautiful object. For some of these large pieces – he has had to construct special lathes – and to work out new ways of handling the felled trees. That he has been able to do so successfully - is a measure of his accomplishment and experience.
With the exception of one piece – the ‘Monkey puzzle vessel’ - all of the pieces in the exhibition were ‘discovered’ in trees that were felled here in the Phoenix Park. So it is very apt that these new works should be put on display in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre in the first instance. In a sense, they are coming home in their new guise – as if to do a lap of honour in their old stomping ground. They are completing a cycle of life – coming almost full circle from young flexible saplings – through the years of growth and weathering – and on to maturity as great imposing trees in a formal landscape. In their demise as trees they have moved on at the hands of a great artist and craftsman – to their new manifestations - reflecting the beauty and presence of their former existence.
To Liam – every sojourn to the Phoenix Park must be like a magical tour through a land of plenty – with its vast range of trees – carefully nurtured by John McCullen, the Park Superintendent - and his caring staff – and who has encouraged Liam in his work for this exhibition. It must be difficult for Liam to simply pass through the Park – with his head turning to each tree – as he is tempted to imagine what great secret waits to be revealed.
In declaring the exhibition open – I would like to congratulate Liam on his work for this exhibition – and through the exhibition – on his thirty years of creative woodturning. His reverence for his material is evidenced by the manner in which he has produced these pieces – from the smallest and delicate – to the most powerful. His has been a labour of love – and has been amply rewarded in this exhibition. Thankfully, it is a reward that we all share. I wish Liam every success with this exhibition – and with his future work.