Sarah O Flaherty

Title: Deer

Artist Name: Sarah O'Flaherty
Year of Installation: 1999
Dimensions: 15 x 45m
Medium: Rock-cut sculpture
Location: Slievereagh, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork
Details of Commission: Commissioned by Cork County Council under the Per Cent for Art scheme arising from the improvement of the N22 at the county border, this work was completed in early 1999. Anunusual sculpture in that it is actually a drawing cut into the rock face, Deer is located beside the main road at Slievereagh, about one mile west of Ballyvourney.  The artist's proposal was clear: 'I propose to use the image of the nine deer that appear in the legends of St. Gobnait, which led her to establish her church at Ballyvourney.  Given the natural beauty of the site, I feel that animal imagery will lend itself well to the area, and the method I intend to employ to portray Gobnait's vision will integrate well with the tranquillity and serenity of the surrounding countryside.'  The resulting artwork is highly successful in achieving these objectives.  On the exposed sandstone rock face flanmking the northern side of the new road about one mile west of Ballyvourney, O'Flaherty has drawn, on a giant scale, the outline images of nine deer walking.  The scale of the artwork is about 150 x 50 feet.  The style of drawing and subject matter is reminiscent of the caves of Lascaux, the animals being rendered in a very simple way - just the essential outline of the body, antlers and eyes.  These giant deer seem to step accross the rock slab, following the road in the direction of Ballyvourney.  The finished drawing is simple, elegant and linear.  Although pared down to essentials, it nonetheless retains a real power and vigour.  The scale and placing of the work is reminiscent of the White Horse of Uffington, a giant silhouette cut into the chalk downs of Oxfordshire in the late Bronze Age.

The artist says: 'Apart from the legend of St. Gobnait, the site was very important, as one of the first thoughts it inspired in me was that of ancient land art - from rock art to desert drawings.  I very much wanted to make a work that would itself become part of the landscape.  I feel that just because it was a public work it did not have to scream.  I wanted it to have subtlety.  The response from people who travel the road has been good, but also the local people who came out to talk to me while work was in progress were very pleased with it.  The wall of natural rock runs parallel with the road, which lends an air of mystery to the drawing.  Sometimes you see seven deer, other times nine, as it was with St. Gobnait as she waited for the right number to appear to her.'

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