Venue: Theatre 2
Time: 1.15pm
Performers: Dr Óscar Mascareñas and Tony Monahan
Óscar Mascareñas and Tony Monahan return to the lunchtime series to share their practice AIRE and their experience of Beholding the Burren, which was part of two artistic residencies in the Burren, Co. Clare in November 2024 and June 2025. AIRE (from the Irish ‘attention’) is a practice that has its origins in the idea of inter-being (promoted by Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh), and is grounded in observation through silence, stillness and sound. It is a practice of silence. But not always silent. Of observing (in) silence. But not always silently. An action of poetry, towards poetry. From/in/into stillness. AIRE is observing as one practices observation. It beckons one to behold.
Through his ambient compositions and works, composer Tony Monahan explores the connection between sound, space and the free-flowing unpredictable sounds of our surroundings.