Hederman's Haunted Inkwell (part 1 of 2)

This video was shot over a 48 hour period in Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick. Glenstal Abbey is a Monastery set on a 500-acre estate and is home to a community of Benedictine monks. It is also home to a boarding school of boys. On October 29th 2008 the monks elected a new Abbot for the next eight year term. The monk elected for the position was Br Mark Patrick Hederman. Mark Patrick has been a monk at Glenstal for forty five years and has written eight books. He was formerly headmaster of the school and has lectured in philosophy and literature at home and abroad. The text recited in this video piece is adapted from the introduction to Patrick Hedermans 2001 publication The Haunted Inkwell: Art and our Future. In this book Hederman lays out his argument as to the importance of art and the role it can play in the development of our future. The video is chronologically edited from evening to evening of the two day period. The camera explores the interiors and exteriors of the sites architecture as well as the Icon Chapel on the grounds. The library is filmed at night, at a time when it is usually uninhabited. Hedermans text resounds through the largely empty spaces and aims to give voice to the invisible presence in the stillness. These modern times bear witness to the widespread collapse and abandonment of organised religion. The general absence of people on screen echoes this sentiment but there is still something present despite the absence. The flashing lights that ripple through the library at night aim to indicate this presence - this autonomous other within the space. The creative act can capture the haunting spirit and personify it (even if few actual inkwells are used these days). Whether we listen to the voice in the art is one thing but whether we are able to view it objectively and not identify with it when we are being creative is another. This video aims to introduce these ideas to the viewer

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Glenstal Abbey
• Limerick
• Mark Patrick Hederman
• Columba Press
• Art and our Future
• Haunted Inkwell
• Benedictine Monastery
• Glenstal Abbey Monks
• Villagers
• Matthew
• Anthony
• Icon
• Chapel
• Guest
• House