Meet Sadhbh Mowlds | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sadhbh Mowlds and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sadhbh, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, where the people, culture and landscape majorly influenced my personal development. Community is incredibly important to me – I have always been a “people person”, finding joy, comfort and entertainment in the company of friends and family. The desire to be part of a community is a large part of Irish tradition which is evident in the ongoing culture of comradery there. Growing up immersed in community has allowed me to feel comfortable in groups, to expect friendship in strangers and to respect the bonds of companionship. The humor of the Irish people is something very special, and it’s something I miss daily – despite the grey skies and the consistent rain, people still manage to laugh, a lot, and from their very core. After being away for so long, I can see the power in laughter and the healing properties the Irish people seem to pull from it.  Of course, music is an enormous part of Irish culture and I was fortunate enough to have grown up in a city known for its bursting music scene. Music was everything and was everywhere. On most nights of the week, I could go into the city and dance to up-and-coming live bands or, instead, go to a pub and sit in front the fire while listening to the bouncing jigs of the fiddle players, not to mention the quantity (and quality!) of late-night buskers dotted all around the town. This respect for music has stuck with me, in which I think music is the ultimate and most genuine art form that I continuously pull inspiration from.
The traditions of Ireland – the folklore, mythology and beliefs of the Irish people, have long inspired my work and have led me onto the path for much of my present projects where I investigate the value systems, social constructs and systematic beliefs of humanity.
Unfortunately, I have not lived on the island for almost a decade – most of the people my age have had to emigrate due to an impossible housing crisis and the ever-increasing cost of living. Despite this, Ireland is always with me and I very much hope that sometime soon, some action will be taken to make it a more livable, affordable and thriving country for young adults to settle in.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Existing in the realm of the uncanny, my work straddles the line between hyper-realism and absurdity to create surreal yet recognizable realities that challenge prevalent and destructive societal constructs. My fixation on the human ability to contemplate is at the core of my pursuit, which investigates the absurdity of the beliefs, behaviors and perceptions of our species. Approaching these themes through the lens of my own wonder, frustration and vulnerability as a woman, I explore the phenomenon of consciousness and what it is to be self-aware. Using the body as an emissary, I probe the boundary between our internal and external self and, in doing so, describe the impact societal perceptions of gender roles and value systems have on our suffering consciousness. This investigation leads to research that culminates in bizarre, bodily sculptures that emphasis the restrictive bond we have with our flesh and the social situations that come along with it. A mixed media artist, captivated by the figure, the use of silicone casting techniques along side varying glass making processes breed opportunities to produce questionably life-like sculptures, often with a dark, humorous edge, that initiate difficult but critical conversations.

My first love is glass blowing and I was introduced to it during my bachelor back in Dublin. Once I graduated, I moved to Berlin, Germany, where I worked in a public access glass studio for the following five years. Glass continues to teach me so much about patience, discipline and focus – traits that do not come very natural to me. Working with the material goes deeper than skill set and material understanding – there is a certain intuition that comes with it, a fluidity, and it’s this quality that persistently captures me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Currently, I’m in a very small, mid-western town finishing up my studies. There’s very little to do around here and to be honest, I spend most (all!!) of my time in the studio. When I do get to go and explore, there are a lot of really good spots for canoeing, hiking and camping throughout Southern Illinois, so trips out to the woods with a bag of beers and snacks is always a fun choice. There’s also a couple of climbable ship-wrecks along the banks of the Mississippi which is obviously super fun to explore. Mostly though, I’d just like to hang out, to spend time together without the pressures of trying to fit a bunch into a tight schedule – just laughing and being silly at home (or in a bar…).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Grandmother, Peggy, recently passed. She was an outstanding woman with an ever-growing heart of gold. By quietly observing the way she approached life, she taught me about respect, kindness, generosity and the simplicity of happiness. She will continue to teach and inspire me for the rest of my days and I would like to take this moment to thank her for every thing she has given me. It was an absolute privilege to know her.

Website: www.sadhbhmowlds.com

Instagram: sadhbh.mowlds