An Míol Mór (The Big Beast) is a 5 channel spatial sound work and immersive experience which draws on themes of Irish Catholicism and folklore to examine how belief and care is directed toward cetaceans. Patrick Lyne of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group kindly contributed research and stunning sound material for this work including humpback whale song and minke whale thumping.
The obscured nature of marine life in Irish waters creates a challenge of visibility, what remains unseen is often forgotten. This applies to growing national military presence, over-fishing and the effects of pollution. This body of work considers our nation's collective history of faith and how that could translate into a widespread compassion and conservation for our whale population. St. Brendan the navigator misread the nature of cetaceans and this rhetoric was shared sight unseen to the land population. An Míol Mór reflects on how our understanding of marine life continues to evolve and invites new forms of empathy and connection.
