Art reflects rising sea futures in new exhibit launched in Limerick museum

TO MARK the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the French Embassy in Ireland, in association with Irish and French partners, presented FLOW.

The artistic and documentary-style project is about the evolution of coastal landscapes in the face of rising sea levels, taking place across the Shannon Estuary region.

From October 2 to 31, the initiative is combining photography, projection mapping, soundscape, and workshops to raise awareness of climate issues.

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The project will be exhibited at The Hunt Museum in Limerick, Gerald Griffin's Community Centre in Loughill, and in various venues throughout Clare and Kerry, from October 2 until 31.

Created by French photographer Carl Cordonnier, FLOW explores the impact of rising waters in Ireland’s Shannon Estuary and France’s Baie de Somme, based on scientific forecasts from Climate Central and confirmed in Ireland by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

For the past two years, Cordonnier has explored the Shannon Estuary, following the potential path of the water from today’s coastline to its possible future, producing two visual cartographies that mirror French and Irish territories at risk.

At the intersection of photography and moving image, the work challenges perceptions of territory and ability to anticipate its transformation.

Céline Place, French Ambassador to Ireland, commented on the project, saying, “The French Embassy is proud to present FLOW with our Irish partners. Art has the power to make us see what science tells us: our coastlines are changing.

“FLOW invites us to imagine the future and to act together. This project not only raises awareness of the sea-level rising, but also strengthens cultural dialogue and cooperation between France and Ireland at a pivotal moment, as we mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement,” said Céline.

Visitors to the exhibitions will experience a poetic visual immersion, with video mapping projected onto suspended fabric sails, evoking the movement of the estuary’s shifting shores. The Irish series also highlights the role of women encountered along the estuary in positions of protection and surveillance of the territory.

Workshops in photography and digital arts, are open to all and invite communities to imagine their territory in 2100.

Their contributions will be integrated into a wider European project.

This anniversary marks a key political moment to assess and reaffirm international commitments to tackling climate change.