This body of work, incorporating sculpture, performance art (video) and drawings by Mary Sullivan reflects on the realities of island life that are often obscured by romanticised notions of island living.

From the Inside Out, and the Outside In… reflects on the realities of island life that are often obscured by romanticised notions of island living. While islands are often perceived as safe havens for those escaping the hustle and bustle of their mainland urban lives, for island dwellers, the experience extends far beyond the safety net that comes with being enclosed by the sea. Importantly, within this context, isolation, typically associated with vulnerability or a lack of safety, is translated into strength through preparation, communication and exchange. These characteristics were thrown into sharp relief in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic brought fear and uncertainty to communities across the world.

Preparing for emergency and unpredictability is an intrinsic part of island life, and the pandemic was met with a pragmatic and practical response on Bere Island. This situation provided a unique opportunity for the community to come together around collective acts of reciprocity and generosity. The eight works of From the Inside Out, and the Outside In are inspired by the power and nuance of those actions.

Through an assemblage of mediums: sculpture, performance art (video), and drawings, From the Inside Out and the Outside In represents the strength of island networks at a time of extreme social isolation and fragmentation. It seeks to draw out the tension between transparency and opacity that has historically structured mainland / island relations, capturing the ebb and flow of its journeys on its way.

Exploring the unseen and unspoken, this work also delves into women’s labour and the boundaries that define and confine us. It explores the tension between Inside and Outside perspectives, revealing how perceptions shift depending on where we stand, the blurred lines between sanity and madness, and the hidden worlds behind closed doors.

Reminiscent of my feelings and experiences upon first moving to Bere Island, these works are shaped by my understanding of island life as simultaneously defined by openness and limitations, community and autonomy, roots and routes

Mary Sullivan is a visual artist based on Bere Island, off the southwest coast of Ireland. Her work turns a critical lens on the complex history of gendered labour, island life and identity. Sullivan’s art intertwines personal narratives with broader social histories, taking inspiration from the unique community and landscape of Bere Island.

Her 2020 project, From the Inside Out and the Outside In, emerged during the initial Covid-19 lockdown, observing the fragility and resilience of island life. This exploration builds on her earlier work around gendered labour, female narratives, and Bere Island’s military history. The project culminated in an exhibition at Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre in 2023, alongside the screening of her award-winning short film The Fine Line, which received international acclaim, including the Best International Short Film at the New York City Short Film Festival in 2024.

Sullivan holds a BA (Hons) in Visual Art from Sherkin Island (2018) and was the first recipient of the RDS Taylor Art Award for her graduation work, At Home, At War. Her work has been exhibited widely in Ireland and internationally, including at the RHA Gallery, Dublin; Crawford Art Gallery, Cork; National Botanic Gardens, Dublin; and Leyden Gallery, London. Her solo exhibitions, Breathe and The Hold, were staged in unique military sites on Bere Island, further connecting her art to the island’s rich history and community.

www.maryksullivan.com • Instagram: @maryksullivanart • Facebook: facebook.com/maryksullivanart