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About This Work
Fighte Fuaighte (pronounced FEE-cha FOO-i-cha) is an old Irish phrase that loosely translates as “woven together” or “everything is interconnected”. This work takes that idea as both its conceptual and structural starting point. Using a typographic system I developed, I repeat and layer the letters of the phrase until they can no longer be read, they’ve become their own visual tapestry.
I deliberately chose colours that remind me of the Australian landscape (the vast sky, sun burnt earth, soft coastal light and dry vegetation), even though the work originated from Irish language. I wanted to see these two worlds existing together on a single surface, colour inspired by where I now live, and language as a tether to where I come from. Even though I’ve been living away from home for so long, I still feel completely connected to Ireland, and the concept of fighte fuaighte resonates really strongly with me. This artwork is a symbol that existence is collective, and that we all belong to something much larger than ourselves.