Shane Hynan
Beneath | Beofhód
28 May – 5 July 2026
Beofhód, an Irish word meaning life beneath the sod, evokes the primal, totemic place of bogs in Celtic culture.
Beneath | Beofhód explores the culture and landscape of bogs in the Irish midlands. The project contemplates social and environmental justice alongside a topographical mapping of peatlands, and a metaphorical exploration of the pre-Christian reverence for elemental energies in the landscape. For Joseph Beuys, bogs were at once the liveliest elements in the European landscape and storing places of life, mystery and preservers of ancient history.
Drawing on Hynan’s authentic connection with his local community and landscape, the work traces the remnants of industrial peat harvesting which brought economic benefits and formed a strong sense of cultural identity in the region. However, urgent ecological imperatives have created tensions between the remaining small-scale harvesting of the bog for turf and the need to protect and enhance peatland habitat and biodiversity.
Above and facing: from the series ‘Beneath | Beofhód’ ©Shane Hynan
Artist Biography
Irish artist Shane Hynan (b. 1976) holds an MFA in Photography (Ulster University 2019). His practice centres on photography with experimental elements in sound, video, collage, and sculpture. The metaphorical exploration of place, land and architecture is a significant subtext throughout his work.
He draws upon conceptual, performative and subjective documentary approaches and works primarily with analogue photography processes as it enhances an emotional and intuitive connection with landscape and topography.
He’s shown his work extensively in Ireland and received multiple awards from the Arts Council, Creative Ireland and Kildare Arts. He’s exhibited internationally in China, Germany and the UK, and was shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society IPE162, IPE163 and IPE166. In 2024 he undertook residencies at the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris) and Roscommon Arts Centre and was awarded both a Visual Arts Bursary and Project award from the Arts Council.
In his ongoing Beneath | Beofhód project Hynan reflects on the endangered bog habitats of his immediate post-industrial landscape in the Irish midlands. The work contemplates the transition in perceptions and use of peatlands in Ireland. Selected works will be shown in the RHA BogSkin exhibition opening January 2025 and a solo exhibition of the full body of work will be exhibited at Photo Museum Ireland in 2026.
© Maija Tammi
Beneath | Beofhód is kindly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland Touring Grant, Galway International Arts Festival and Roscommon Arts Centre.