Maitiú Mac Cárthaigh is a visual artist, researcher and MTU Crawford Graduate. Their current research grows from their connection to rural queer existence in Ireland. This project examines (de)colonial queer loneliness / identity performativity in contemporary culture and how it is informed by our history. Over the last 40 years, we have seen a rapid shift in queer positionality in Ireland arriving at a point of queerness being synonymous with words like “new” and “radical”. With this project, Maitiú looks back at Irish history and questions how colonial occupation and persistent Roman Catholic hegemony has purged, burned and shipped off so many queer stories and histories. How can you fully know your identity when you are denied its lineage and how is heteronormative culture able to utilise this against us? This research fits into the wider context of their practice which looks at mechanisms of group assimilation, self-annihilation, and ascension within isolated queer, white and Irish communities. Maitiú’s work is formalised through bio-installation, print, sound and video.
Since completing their MA in Artistic Research in 2023, they have been awarded a residency in Casino Display (LUX), has been shortlisted for the RDS Visual Arts Awards 2023 and was selected to exhibit as part of “Person, Presence, Perception”, an all island of Ireland travelling exhibition with the OPW and NI Department of Finance. Recently, they presented their work as a part of Radio Solstice in Cork Midsummer Festival 2024 and have been awarded the Agility Award 2024.
This residency and subsequent solo exhibition will build upon the artist’s current focus on rural queerness and agricultural processes in Ireland. During this residency, they will focus on the history and effects of loneliness on rural queer experience and how it is connected to ideas of sterility, community monoculturalism, homogeneity, White guilt and queer assimilation into dominant heteronormative culture. This work is an extension of Maitiú’s research into Irish agri-policy and how it is informed by the histories of colonisation, globalisation and western superiority.
This project aims to reclaim queer Irish presence and identity performativity through the voice and tradition of na coainte (nomative plural of coaineadh). Growing from their existing material practice, there are three elements to this research. The first is an ongoing research publication commissioned by Bad Penny Publishing (Den Haag, NL). As material research for this, Maitiú is continuing exploration of bioplastics made with lubricant and working with Dr. Declan Tuite to create a queer motet or polyvocal monastic choral piece.
Work in Progress Exhibition
As a conclusion to their residency in the TRISKEL SAMPLE Project Space, Maitiú Mac Cárthaigh will present their work in progress, when faggots scream. This work explores the intersections of Queer identity and rurality, examining ideas of loneliness, erasure and the absorption of acceptable Queerness into Irish identity.
