this/OUR is an artist-led transdisciplinary project centred on Glenbower Wood in East Cork.
this/OUR is a collaboration between four professional artists that share a passion for participatory arts and collaborating with communities: Basil Al-Rawi, Chris Finnegan, Katie Nolan, and Philip Ryan. Individually, each artist has led past initiatives in Killeagh and East Cork, commissioned or supported by Jessica Bonenfant of Greywood Arts. These projects include:
The “20th Century Killeagh Community Photo Archive” by Basil Al-Rawi, capturing local histories through photography and narrative.
“Micromania” by Chris Finnegan, an imaginative youth-led project exploring storytelling and visual play.
“Youghal Carpets - Creating Connections” by Katie Nolan, documenting the socio-economic history of former factory workers.
“The Seed Pavilion” by Philip Ryan, a collaborative community project envisioning the future of Glenbower Wood.
Building on these relationships, this/OUR invites the wider community to come together once again, exploring Glenbower Wood through new perspectives and shared experiences.
this/OUR is a collaboration between four professional artists that share a passion for participatory arts and collaborating with communities: Basil Al-Rawi, Chris Finnegan, Katie Nolan, and Philip Ryan. Individually, each artist has led past initiatives in Killeagh and East Cork, commissioned or supported by Jessica Bonenfant of Greywood Arts. These projects include:
The “20th Century Killeagh Community Photo Archive” by Basil Al-Rawi, capturing local histories through photography and narrative.
“Micromania” by Chris Finnegan, an imaginative youth-led project exploring storytelling and visual play.
“Youghal Carpets - Creating Connections” by Katie Nolan, documenting the socio-economic history of former factory workers.
“The Seed Pavilion” by Philip Ryan, a collaborative community project envisioning the future of Glenbower Wood.
Building on these relationships, this/OUR invites the wider community to come together once again, exploring Glenbower Wood through new perspectives and shared experiences.
Basil Al-Rawi is an Irish-Iraqi multidisciplinary artist and researcher who works with photography, film, sculpture, and immersive installations. His practice is concerned with the landscapes of personal and cultural memory, identity, and the digital mediation of reality. Remediation, reconstruction, and participation are central to his processes.
His recent work explores the potential of recomposing archival material to form virtual bonds with the past and create expanded photographic moments. In 2023 he completed a practice-based PhD at The Glasgow School of Art, during which he founded the ‘Iraq Photo Archive’ and created the ongoing ‘House of Memory’ VR project. Al-Rawi has exhibited at IMMA, The Photographers Gallery, The LAB, and the Lahore Biennale, amongst others. His practice is currently supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
His recent work explores the potential of recomposing archival material to form virtual bonds with the past and create expanded photographic moments. In 2023 he completed a practice-based PhD at The Glasgow School of Art, during which he founded the ‘Iraq Photo Archive’ and created the ongoing ‘House of Memory’ VR project. Al-Rawi has exhibited at IMMA, The Photographers Gallery, The LAB, and the Lahore Biennale, amongst others. His practice is currently supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Chris Finnegan is a visual artist from Cork City, working across photography, sculpture and participatory practices. He holds a Masters in Photography from Falmouth University.
His practice centres on the home and suburbia; critically interrogating ideas of home-making, childhood and the domestic sublime. He regularly collaborates with his young sons and incorporates games and play-strategies in his image and exhibition making. Solo exhibitions include Someone Else’s Somewhere at the Mills Centre, London, House Rules at 6 Central Avenue and The Grammar of Home at Galway City Library. In 2023 his House Rules was published by PhotoIreland. His photobook, Suburban Fantastic was published by Biscuit Books in 2024.
Chris is an Associate Artist with Helium Arts and has worked with CoAction West Cork, KID FUTURE LAB (USA), and Cork County Council. Collaborative youth projects in 2024 include: Big Listening, a schools programme at the National Space Centre; Macromania or Sharks, no. Towers, at Greywood Arts; and FrameWorks with Dripsey N.S.
His practice centres on the home and suburbia; critically interrogating ideas of home-making, childhood and the domestic sublime. He regularly collaborates with his young sons and incorporates games and play-strategies in his image and exhibition making. Solo exhibitions include Someone Else’s Somewhere at the Mills Centre, London, House Rules at 6 Central Avenue and The Grammar of Home at Galway City Library. In 2023 his House Rules was published by PhotoIreland. His photobook, Suburban Fantastic was published by Biscuit Books in 2024.
Chris is an Associate Artist with Helium Arts and has worked with CoAction West Cork, KID FUTURE LAB (USA), and Cork County Council. Collaborative youth projects in 2024 include: Big Listening, a schools programme at the National Space Centre; Macromania or Sharks, no. Towers, at Greywood Arts; and FrameWorks with Dripsey N.S.
Katie Nolan is a multidisciplinary visual artist living in West Waterford. She completed TU Dublin Masters Art & Environment programme in 2022, where she explored the West Cork islands through the lens of archipelagic thinking. Through her socially engaged art practice she aims to create opportunities for the development of reflective expression that can bring humanity’s desensitised relationship to the planet to a broader aesthetic awareness.
She has a proven track record of leading co-creative community art projects that have engaged with a diverse range of collaborators, fostering dialog and expression through the visual arts. Her work is rooted in transdisciplinary research, and is driven by an ardent interest in the entropic impact of our technoculture on humanity & the wider environment. Katie has exhibited in Ireland, Europe and the USA.
She has a proven track record of leading co-creative community art projects that have engaged with a diverse range of collaborators, fostering dialog and expression through the visual arts. Her work is rooted in transdisciplinary research, and is driven by an ardent interest in the entropic impact of our technoculture on humanity & the wider environment. Katie has exhibited in Ireland, Europe and the USA.
Philip Michael Ryan is an artist based in Waterford and co-founder of Nocht Studio. His practice is rooted in collaboration, exploring place, memory, and community through placemaking and participatory projects. His recent work includes research into creative engagement in Glenbower Wood, supported by Create Ireland through both the Mentoring Award and Research and Development Award. Philip is also a Creative Partner on Síolta Glasa, a West Limerick-based project exploring circular economy principles through the theme of repair.
Originally trained in architecture, he holds a first-class honours degree from the Dublin School of Architecture and has worked in design across Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand. More recently, he completed 'Commissioning and Curating Contemporary Public Art' at HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in 2024. He is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland, Mór Artists Collective, Haumea Ecoversity, Project Tipping Point, The Deep Transformation Network and ArtLinks. His practice is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Originally trained in architecture, he holds a first-class honours degree from the Dublin School of Architecture and has worked in design across Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand. More recently, he completed 'Commissioning and Curating Contemporary Public Art' at HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in 2024. He is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland, Mór Artists Collective, Haumea Ecoversity, Project Tipping Point, The Deep Transformation Network and ArtLinks. His practice is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Jessica Bonenfant is the Artistic Director of Greywood Arts. She is a cultural producer passionate about creating spaces where meaningful experiences can be shared. At Greywood, this means bringing artists and the community together to explore the creative process, connect and learn. What began as an artist’s residency in 2017, has grown exponentially into a Creative Hub with studios, educational and event facilities, as well as a media hub.
Embedded in East Cork’s cultural fabric, Greywood Arts offers arts education programmes, supports professional artists, programmes cultural events, and produces collaborative community projects. Arts participation and placemaking are at the heart of the organisation’s programming, impacting participants through personal growth, increased wellbeing and strengthening their sense of belonging.
Embedded in East Cork’s cultural fabric, Greywood Arts offers arts education programmes, supports professional artists, programmes cultural events, and produces collaborative community projects. Arts participation and placemaking are at the heart of the organisation’s programming, impacting participants through personal growth, increased wellbeing and strengthening their sense of belonging.
This project is developed in partnership with Greywood Arts and is supported by the Arts Participation Project Award 2025 from the Arts Council of Ireland and an Art Grant from Cork County Council.
