Voices of Memory

Location: Irish National War Memorial Gardens

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A riverside sound art installation in the Irish National War Memorial Gardens. 

The Goethe-Institut Irland, in partnership with Dublin City Council, through the support of the OPW and the Trustees of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, commissioned a sound artwork by internationally renowned artist Christina Kubisch. Located along the banks of the River Liffey at the Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge, Dublin, this work is a contemporary artwork designed as a commemoration of the First World War. 

During a site visit to Memorial Gardens in April 2014, Kubisch saw the Ireland’s Memorial Records 1914-1918 designed by renowned Irish artist Harry Clarke. These records list all the Irish men that died fighting during WW1.This aspect of the visit had such profound influence on the artist that she was inspired to create the sound artwork using these names. In November 2015 and April 2016 people were invited to volunteer to read the names from the records that would then be transformed into a sound composition. Playing over four speakers in the gardens the piece also incorporates contemporary sounds of the River Liffey that were recorded with the use of a military navy hydrophone. A double CD including booklet was published as part of the commission.