Meet the Artist: Rachel Joynt on place, context and her love of sea creatures
Born in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, Rachel Joynt grew up in Dublin and graduated with a degree in sculpture from the National College of Art & Design. Her work is generally figurative, modelled from nature, and in particular, from sea forms.
She is interested in our human relationship with underwater creatures, both physically and metaphori- cally. Scale is also important, and she often transforms and challenges the viewer’s usual viewpoint by using different magnifications to scale up her subjects.
Place and context are key to her public art pieces, and she often involves the view- er in her work by inserting ‘eyepieces’ or glowing inte- rior lights that invite closer inspection and contemplation.
Joynt’s recently opened exhibition Fathom: Out- stretched Arms at the Solomon Gallery, Dublin, is the result of the artist’s explora- tion of and intervention with the marine reserve of Lough Hyne in West Cork.
Works include eye-like sea urchins, dancing starfish and a mollusc the size of a human lung cast in bronze, suspended by the artist in that moment of stillness before the tide turns.
Together with these bronzes, Joynt presents a series of unique prints us- ing marbling ink to mirror water currents plus moving image works.
How my artistic journey began: I was always a bit of a daydreamer. As a child I loved peering into rockpools. Imagining another active world full of beauty and tension, maybe that’s when it started.
Where the title for my current show came from: ‘Fathom’ is such an open word. It has many threads and to me is undefinable ... I was very excited when I learnt the origin of this 16th century word: an embrace, outstretched arms, a unit of measurement.
What I want my audience to feel when viewing my work: I want the audience to trust personally what they may feel and reflect on from the show. If it resonates for them, then I’ve succeeded.
Artists who have influenced me: There are many aspects of different artists, both Irish and international, that I admire: to list them is hard. My shortlist is Kathy Prendergast, Louise Bourgeois, Rachel Whiteread and Cornelia Parker.
My favourite piece of music when I need inspiration is: At the moment it’s Roslyn by Bon Iver and Flower Relay by Inni-K. I love the ease of listening to my Spotify playlists while working in my studio.
I have a collection of: Homes of molluscs, or you could call them seashells or sea treasures.
An artist whose work I would collect if I could For starters I’d love a print by Louise Bourgeois and a Barbara Hepworth sculpture.
A place that means a lot to me: I am continually drawn to Lough Hyne in west Cork.
A place I’d like to visit The Galapagos islands would be amazing, once I was re- assured I was not harming this unique ecosystem.
In another life I would have been: A marine biologist.
The best piece of advice I ever received: Trust in not knowing the endpoint.
