Aguaje - Fire in the Belly

Regan wordpress April 1, 2013

Artist Residency Sachaqa Art Centre Peruvian Amazon.

2013

The fruit Aguaje with its strange reptilian skin is often found sold in Peruvian towns and villages in the Amazon. It is also made into juice and ice cream. The spines of the Aguaje tree are said to be used in brews by sorcerers to see devils and the tree itself is believed to attract water making the Aguaje an important tree culturally, spiritually and environmentally.

"Aguaje" the installation was created using local San Roque clay and Bombonaje palm. Inside were placed two Aguaje seeds. The installation was eventually left in a dry river bed behind the art centre. Open to the elements "Aguaje" will eventually break down and disintegrate releasing the seeds into the dry stream where hopefully they will sprout and grow.

In Love with an Old Woman

Regan wordpress March 4, 2012

Regan O'Callaghan Mojacar la Vieja Andalucia, Spain, art residency

The old woman wasn’t subtle in her approach. Her method of seduction quick, her spell intoxicating. I saw her on the first day of my arrival at the Fundacion Valparaiso Mojacar, she seemed to exude an energy that at times felt overwhelming. The old woman of Mojacar was not to be ignored. She reminded me of someone else, perhaps it was Tuahara the pregnant woman who I had grown up with in Taupo, New Zealand. The old woman had a similar presence majestic and mysterious at the same time. Like Tauhara I began one of a number of journeys to her peak. At the top an old reservoir constructed by the Moors sank deep, empty of water but now full of plants and vines. La Vieja had once been the hill upon which rested the village of Mojacar but that was a long time ago and now the town with its whitewashed buildings and empty hotels looked down on her from the opposite larger and higher hill. But unlike that hill the old woman still had presence, a magnetic force which drew me to her everyday.

Regan O'Callaghan Mojacar la Vieja , Mountain, mono prints, Art residency, snake

From my studio I had a clear view of her pyramid like shape inspiring me to draw and paint her. The studio contained an old printing press and so for the first time in many years I experimented with mono-prints rolling out vibrantly coloured pictures which spoke of her life, the animals which lived on her, the fires which had swept over her, the sun that beat down and the stars that shone above.

But more than anything I wished to speak about what she meant to me. About the time I climbed and sat praying for a friend who had died while a fellow resident played his beautiful music inspired by the peaks of the Andes. Of how I had been moved to carry up water and fruit to offer thanks for her, pouring the water into the dry reservoir and leaving the fruit for her kin. How her moonlit shape had etched itself into my mind encouraging me to create so that others could see and give thanks for her, for her beauty and for her spirit. Indeed Mojacar la Vieja had me under her spell and when the day approached to depart I felt sad and mournful. One last climb in the middle of the day the sun was hotter than it had been all month. I gave thanks for the sun bleached snail shells, the scattered paths that led nowhere, the insects that buzzed and the birds above.

Regan O'Callaghan Mojacar la Vieja, evening, sun setting, Andalucia, Spain, art residency

Studio Altar

Regan wordpress September 5, 2010

No chickens have been hurt in this installation! In my studio I have an altar. I pray before this altar when I arrive and when I finish and leave for the day. My studio altar consists of objects found or made. Each object has a meaning or memory which I hold close to my heart.

SKULL - This papier mache piece was made by me at a Day of the Dead workshop with Marcela Montoya. It represents death. I find the day of the Dead festival a wonderful way to acknowledge death. It is something we all have to face whether it be our own or someone else’s. In 2008 I spent a wonderful day working with the Linares family in Mexico city. The Linares are renowned for their papier mache work of skulls and skeletons and alebrijes used in the Day of the Dead festivities. Some of their work can be seen in the British Museum.

KETE - The Kete (bag) is made out of flax. This one was made by my Auntie Betty and holds my incense and charcoal. It was her first kete she had made. To me it is a family heirloom.

MONSTRANCE - A liturgical vessel used in Churches a monstrance is designed to hold a consecrated host. Here I have inserted a picture of a fish. As a child I had an ambition to visit the Great Barrier Reef. When I was 18 I travelled to Australia and up to Cairns catching a ride on a fishing boat out to the outer reef. The first time I put my head under the water I saw I was surrounded by a huge school of tropical fish of all shapes, sizes and colours swimming around me. As well as fish there were huge clams, beautiful coral, manta ray and reef sharks. It was absolutely stunning and a dream come true.

SATYAVAN’S VISIT - The backdrop to the altar is a painting titled Satyavan’s visit. This is named after a friend who introduced me to some Shamanic teachings. Satyavan’s name is taken from the story of Savitri and Satyavan. When Satyvan dies and Death comes to take him his wife Savitri follows asking Death to return her beloved husband to her. Eventually after much journeying Death is moved by Savitri’s dedication and devotion. He grants Savitri her wish and gives her husband back for them to live a long and prosperous life together.

MOUNTAIN - Last year I had a number of dreams about mountains. I grew up near mountains so it is not so surprising but the shape of the mountains in my dreams were quite unique and their presence seemed quite mystical. Inspired by the dreams I made a mountain out of papier mache and gesso. Later in the same year I travelled to Peru and visited Machu Pichu. The peaks around this amazing place reminded me of my dream mountains.

KORU - The Koru is an important motif for me. I have been drawing it for years and it appears in much of my work including some icons. This is a piece I carved a couple of years ago. The Koru represents the constant unfolding of time past and present.