ANCESTORS

 A site-responsive sculpture installation filmed & streamed for Tread Softly 21 on an uninhabited island off the coast of Sligo.

Following the success of Underwave, I collaborated with videographers Fionn Rogers and Peter Martin to create Ancestors; a sculptural installation of ghost-like, life-size figures representing the former inhabitants of an uninhabited island off the Sligo coast. Inspired by their daily lives and custodial role on the island, this site-responsive installation explores how our ancestors lived in close contact with the natural world. It is also an enquiry into the continuity between our distant ancestors and us, and whether we can find our place as part of an interconnected natural world again.


5 short videos of 11 temporarily installed, life-size sculptures in Jesmonite composite, recycled clothing, hessian and selected objects.

Ancestors Production Team

Sculptor, Writer & Director Bettina Seitz

Director of Photography Peter Martin

Second Camera Fionn Rogers

Sound Designer Joe Hunt

Production Manager Maurice Power

Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke

PR Kate Bowe Communications

Social Media Denise Rushe

Produced by Tread Softly

Assistants to Bettina Seitz

Jude Clarke | Barra Cassidy | Finola McFadden | Maura Logue | Shelagh Brennan | Valli Schafer

Production Assistants

Donncadh O Callaghan | Jude Clarke

Boatman

Niall Henry

Bettina Seitz and Tread Softly gratefully acknowledges the support of the following people in the making of Ancestors

Jann Canham | John Carton (harbour master) | Nikki Corcoran |Nancy Rooney | Lauren Donaghy | Sam Purcell | Sligo Yacht Club & Sligo County Council


We also gratefully acknowledge the support of Sligo County Council, IT Sligo, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, The Model, Hawk’s Well Theatre and Cairde for streaming Ancestors on their social media platforms and RTE for featuring Ancestors on their culture page.