Refracting Narcissus
Colm Clarke & Tonya McMullan
Niland Gallery Galway
August 2011

On Tuesday morning we earthed bulbs on Claddagh Quay. The length of this dig is the height of us laying head to head.

During our stay we watched Black Narcissus (1947) scenes of which were filmed in Galway. In this technicolour tale Sister Clodagh sets up a convent in the Himalayas. The sisters are seduced and fall for the sensuality of their surroundings.

We found ourselves drawn to the potentials of what lies dormant below the surface and how ephemeral traces of an action can resonate beyond.

We insist you to take some of the narcissus bulbs lined out on the gallery floor to plant in fertile soil, preferably somewhere unexpected.