SOUVENIRS OF THE CREATION
By Danny & Geraldine Osborne (IE)
Danny is probably the first person to use molten lava flowing from a volcanic vent to create sculpture, which he feels is a deeply symbolic artistic gesture. He says, “When I form a sculpture from molten lava, it takes a mighty great leap in time from the creation of the earth to the brutality of the conquistadors or the nurturing of a baby’s bottle of milk.” To make art directly on an active volcano is incredibly challenging, but the difficulties only contribute to the excitement of successfully making sculptures from a material that has a direct link to the creation of our planet. The film was edited by Aoife Carey, with additional camera by Orla Osborne, Danny Osborne, and Gerry Wardell.
BIO
Danny is probably best known for the Oscar Wilde monument in Merrion Square, Dublin. At the core of his practice is a connection to the geologic landscape, and a deep engagement with natural phenomena, especially volcanic and glacial environments. For over four decades, he has travelled to remote regions of the world with Geraldine, to explore, film, paint, and sculpt. He was joint leader of the First Irish Arctic Expedition in 1981. More recently, he has focused on working on volcanoes. He has had many solo exhibitions in both Canada and Ireland.