Norman Shaw
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Cuchulainn Nights
Ink and coloured pencil on paper, 2010
42.5 x 55.5cm
Exhibited at the 'Resident 11' exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, 2011.
Cuchulainn was an ancient Celtic hero, magical warrior of the Fingalians of whom the blind bard Ossian sung. He roamd across Ireland and the Scottish Highlands, and is associated with many places. In this case, he has manifested in the black gabbro of the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye, which folk etymology associates with him. I exploit apparent similarities between the words Cuchulainn / Cuillin / Cthulhu.
This drawing was produced as part of my six-month research residency at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye, May - December 2010.
I explored visual aspects of the hauntological landscapes of Skye, investigating cleared village hauntings, and relationships between folk etymologies of the Skye and the mythic landscapes of Ossian and HP Lovecraft.