Language, Memory, and the North

Askin grew up in Tyrone during the Troubles. “There wasn’t much colour or connection to culture, so working with Manchán has helped rekindle a love of language, heritage, and connection to place. His work helps fill in the gaps of who we are and where we’ve come from – what we’ve forgotten.”

The collaboration started with an online project based around lost words: “I illustrated these evocative lost words that Manchán had collected – mostly to do with farming, the seasons, or nature – but there are also words that connect with a more spiritual or emotional mindset and to a faerie world beyond our human understanding.”

“When the opportunity came along to develop this into a body of work for Riverbank Arts Centre in Kildare, I jumped at it. I had read all his books and used them as background inspiration to create a universe that is playful, enchanting, but also grounded in this place.”

The exhibition is multi-layered and consists of full-colour illustrations and animation, as well as a mini theatre set.

“My own background is animation. I’ve created two animated children’s series for TV. I find it very easy to conjure up story moments and magical spaces based on the words that he uses.”

Her animated series Castle Farm was created for Milkshake on Channel 5. She was living on a small farm in Donegal at the time, which became her inspiration. Joe and Jack was created for RTÉ and was sold internationally. “It started simply – one day, I did a drawing of my cat with a little boy who used to visit with his mum. I could see a dynamic, and it felt like the beginning of something. It became Joe and Jack, an animated series that aired on Disney, Canal+, and ABC Australia.”