Eoghan McGuinness
he/him
Naturally Green
‘Naturally Green’ takes inspiration from naturally green spaces in urban settings in Dublin, specifically the NCAD field, a wild area in the heart of D8. My work questions the importance of these spaces in cities and their impact on our general well-being. Through my work, I want to make visible the preciousness of these spaces through the materials and techniques that I utilise, such as precious metals, gemstones, and casting techniques. While experimenting with sand casting, I fell in love with the cast in place technique where stones are set into molten metal.
The array of colours, textures, and variety of flora and fauna in the NCAD field are mirrored in the sand-casted forms through the use of multi-coloured sapphires and textures in the metal. The act of the cast in place technique also represents the growth of nature in urban settings as the stones hold on and peek through the metal in different ways. Objects have been taken directly from the NCAD field and cast into wearable pieces through the process of lost wax casting. Dried plants are repetitively dipped into wax and then cast in brass and silver to create precious and everlasting impressions of these plants that come from the wonderful wild areas of urban settings in Dublin.
The Natural Authority Signets are a collection of signet rings that embody the dominance of wild spaces over man-made environments. These rings highlight the importance of plants, symbolised through sapphires cast in place and stone-set after casting. The combination of rough, sand-casted metal and the prominence of the sapphires represents the essential role of nature in our lives and the authority of plants over human-made structures.
These earrings are inspired by the heritage walls that enclose the NCAD field and its natural wild space. It holds the same significance as it’s other counterparts that are named in the mortar collection part of the Naturally Green collection. These sterling silver earrings are made using sand cast techniques in a more aggressive, less precise manner, making it more unpredictable and achieving rougher texture with ‘flashing’ giving it more variety and brick-like aesthetic.
This sterling silver bracelet is inspired by the historic walls enclosing the NCAD field, a natural wilding space in the city. Each link is hand-cast using ancient sand casting techniques, embracing imperfections to create unique, textured links reminiscent of the heritage walls protecting this urban sanctuary.
These brooches are meticulously crafted from vines gathered and dried from the NCAD field. The vines are first dipped in wax to preserve their natural form and texture. They are then cast in brass, resulting in a durable and lasting piece. Each brooch is fitted with a pin, allowing it to be worn and cherished. These brooches embody a permanent piece of nature, transforming organic elements into wearable art that captures the essence of the natural world.