Spring Is On The Horizon

"After Winter Comes Spring" is a chalk board animation which i created a number of years ago. It reflects the economic crisis the country was experiencing of the past number of years. As budget day 2015 is upon us there is rumours that some taxes may be reversed, could we be getting over the hard times? Is spring on the horizon?

Animating Alice Maher

All images are by the Irish artist Alice Maher

After Winter Comes Spring

After Winter Comes Spring

This chalk animation displays the certain annual cycle of hibernation in nature. As we lose a generation to emigration we can look at this natural cycle for reassurance. This generation haven’t had time to establish themselves, they couldn’t survive in this economic climate and they leave this country in the hard times, with the hope that they will once again return, back to the familiar, in better times.

William Kentridge

     "Disintergration then regathering" 
 
      After investigating the issue of emigration for some time now, it started to take it's toll on me, such a depressing issue. So Ive decided to continue to look at emigration but thinking and approaching it in a more positive and optimistic light. Ive focused on the issue as a temporary separation, and that being reunited is a the "happy ending."
         Looking at the migration of birds for the cold, harsh time of winter and their return in the prosperous spring as a metaphor for the issue of emigration. Another metaphor I'm using is the hibernation of animals like bears for the harsh winter. When looking at the possibility i also thought of the annual-cycle of trees. They appear dead in the winter but life springs from them in spring.
         At this point in time I'm working on a black and white animation, using white watercolour on a blackbird, and I'm also working on painting's of the trees.  The inspiration for my animations came from the artist's Yui Kugimiya and William Kentridge.

Still image from animation : Linda Byrne