Each year the ACP facilitates an opportunity for two artists – an Australian and an international artist – to discuss their creative practice, experiences and inspirations. In early February 2020, Sydney-based photographer Maclay Heriot began corresponding with Ruth Medjber in Dublin, Ireland. Their initial conversations focussed on how to visually communicate the energy of live music events. As professional photographers they had been commissioned to tour with bands, such as Portugal. The Man and Arcade Fire, as well as shoot on stage at the world’s largest music festivals, like Coachella (USA) and Glastonbury (UK).

By March, the Covid-19 pandemic had spread across the world and one by one countries were going into lockdown. Overnight the live entertainment industry went into hibernation with the possibility of no global music tours for several years. Faced with this uncertain future, Ruth and Maclay were confronted with reinventing their careers. There was also a deepening of their conversations. Supporting each other, they shared a greater appreciation for their ‘music families’.

For both, the works selected for Sense the music are powerful mnemonics, or memory triggers. From images of musicians in amongst their fans, to candid shots behind the scenes and studio portraits – each frame reveals the intensity of a moment and music’s capacity to connect us.

Allison Holland, ACP Curator

Éascaíonn ACP (Ionad Grianghrafadóireachta na hAstráile) deis le haghaidh beirt ealaíontóirí – ealaíontóir Astrálach amháin agus ealaíontóir idirnáisiúnta amháin – gach bliain chun a gcleachtas cruthaitheachta, a dtaithí agus a spreagthaí a phlé. Chuaigh Maclay Heriot, grianghrafadóir atá lonnaithe in Sydney, i mbun comhfhreagrais le Ruth Medjber, atá lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath, Éire, go luath i mí Feabhra 2020. Dhírigh siad ar an gcaoi a gcuireann siad an fuinneamh a bhíonn ag imeachtaí ceoil beo in iúl go físiúil ina gcéad chúpla comhrá. Is grianghrafadóirí gairmiúla iad beirt, agus coimisiúnaíodh iad roimhe seo le dul ar camchuairt le bannaí ceoil éagsúla amhail Portugal. The Man agus Arcade Fire, mar aon le grianghraif a ghlacadh ón stáitse ag roinnt de na féilte ceoil is mó ar domhan, cuir i gcás Coachella (Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá) agus Glastonbury (an Ríocht Aontaithe). 

Ach faoi mhí an Mhárta, bhí paindéim Covid-19 scaipthe ar fud an domhain agus thosaigh tíortha ag cur dianghlasáil i bhfeidhm de réir a chéile. Bhí ar thionscal na siamsaíochta beo codladh geimhridh a dhéanamh láithreach bonn agus seans ann nach mbeadh aon chamchuairteanna ceoil domhanda ann go ceann roinnt blianta. Bhí ar Ruth agus Maclay a ngairmeacha beatha a athchruthú agus an todhchaí éiginnte sin rompu. D’éirigh a gcomhráite ní ba dhoimhne ansin. Thacaigh siad lena chéile agus d’fhorbair siad tuiscint ní b’fhearr ar a ‘dteaghlaigh cheoil’. 

Tá na saothair ón mbeirt ealaíontóirí a roghnaíodh do thaispeántas ‘Sense’ ina neamónaigh nó spreagthaí cuimhní an-chumhachtach. Idir íomhánna de cheoltóirí i measc a leantóirí, phictiúir neamhbhalbha ó chúl an stáitse agus phortráidí a glacadh i stiúideonna – léirítear déine an nóiméid agus cumas an cheoil daoine a cheangal le chéile i ngach ceann de na frámaí.

Allison Holland, Coimeádaí ag ACP

Exhibition partners

This exhibition was kindly supported by the Government of Ireland through the Consulate General of Ireland in New South Wales.