Galway based wire sculpture artist Glenn Gibson is working on a very special project which will be held here next year.
Project: One will centre around connection, disconnection, loneliness and will question many of the internal dialogues every single person has but perhaps never speak of.
Self taught, professional Irish artist and teacher of wire sculpture. Glenn Gibson’s work, spanning two decades, explores themes of mysticism, consciousness and the natural world.
For the last six years Glenn has been the Creative Director for Art in Mind, Galway’s artist led non-profit organisation that is dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing through creative practice.
Now Glenn is launching One, an immersive sculpture installation engaging all senses which will launch in September 2024.
What started as a hobby became a vital therapeutic tool to combat life’s more difficult times.
Combined with a meditation practice Glenn discovered that this focused activity began to untie all the knots in his mind, giving clear and calm periods where creativity poured from him.
“It was the only time in my day where the chatter of my brain would abate, my stress and anxiety would fade and time dilate. I had accidentally stepped into a flow state, and have been fascinated with it ever since,” said Glenn.
Introducing One The project:
This work explores the illusion of separation in three parts. “In an ever ‘connected’ world we find more and more people experiencing loneliness and feelings of isolation,” explained Glenn.
“The first part explores the sensation of being surrounded by people and still feeling alone, while at the same time offering a perspective shift to realise that everything is interconnected and that we all participate in the creation of our experience.”
Why 108? In many cultures 108 is a sacred number. According to the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, after whom the Fibonacci sequence is (nick)named, it is believed that the number 108 has a way of representing the wholeness of existence. This subject will be explored more throughout the installation.
“The reason I chose to use this number is an entire rabbit hole in itself but suffice to say, 108 is a sacred number,” Glenn said,
“According to Vedic cosmology, 108 is the basis of creation, represents the universe and all our existence. In yoga, the number 108 refers to spiritual completion.”
“That’s the reason why malas used for japa, silent repetition of a mantra, are composed of 108 beads.”
