An Ciúnas / The Silence traces multiple trajectories of migration from Ireland to both Jamaica and Britain from the period preceding the Great Famine of 1845–52 to the present day. It identifies catalytic moments in the history of the British Empire through the lenses of Ireland and Jamaica to illuminate how events from the past inform current politics and society. The work establishes a radical account of Ireland’s and Jamaica’s fights for self-determination, the social conditions of Ireland in the nineteenth century and today, the evolution of the Jamaican political system, and the power structures at play in both countries before and after independence.

An Ciúnas / The Silence is presented as a multichannel film installation and collages a myriad of moving and still images (often manipulated), either drawn from or referencing public records, online videos and photographs, and newspaper articles. The montage of fragmentary episodes moves back and forth in time and incorporates various creative modes, including textual graphics and audio effects. The overlaying of information, visuals, and sonic outputs amplifies the depicted perspectives, and the work’s presentation as a continuous loop undermines typical storytelling and the notion of a single official, dominant narrative.

Marianne Keating was shortlisted to represent Ireland in the 2022 Venice Biennale and has exhibited extensively throughout Ireland and internationally. She has been commissioned for the Irish Pavilion, Expo 2025, Japan, and has an upcoming solo show at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. Her past solo shows include The Model, Sligo (2024); The Showroom, London (2023); Black Tower Projects, London (2020); RAMPA, Porto, Portugal (2019); Crawford Art Gallery, Cork City (2019). She was a studio holder at Fire Station Residency, Acme, London (2020 – 2025). Her work is in the collection of the Office of Public Works and various international institutional and private collections. She has a PhD from Kingston University, London; an MA from the Royal College of Art, London; and a BA from the Limerick School of Art and Design.

An Ciúnas / The Silence, 2023

Multichannel film installation with 5.1 Sound

Duration 59:40

A Film by Marianne Keating

Edited by Aaron Wheeler and Marianne Keating

Original Score Rod Morris

Sound Design Rob Szeliga

Camera Marianne Keating

Voice Over Nicola Ryan, Eoin Ryan and Aaron Wheeler

Archival footage and photography courtesy of the National Library of Ireland and British Pathé

Exhibition

Curator: Miguel Amado

Tour Manager: Rayne Booth

AV advisor: Kenji Takahashi

AV technical consultant and provider: Eidotech

Lead technician: Michael Lonergan

Marianne Keating: An Ciúnas / The Silence is organised by Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, Co. Cork. It is part a tour including The Model in Sligo, Rua Red in Dublin, Limerick City Gallery of Art and Wexford Arts Centre. It was initially organised by The Showroom in London.

The production of An Ciúnas / The Silence and its tour are funded by the Arts Council through both a Project Award and the Touring of Work Scheme.