AIRE

An invitation to sit and observe.

A conversation beyond words:

With every sound an accompanying silence.

AIRE (from the Irish ‘attention’) is a practice developed by Óscar Mascareñas and Tony Monahan that has its origins in the idea of inter-being (promoted by Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh), and is grounded in observation through silence, stillness and sound. It is a practice of silence. But not always silent. Of observing (in) silence. But not always silently. An action of poetry, towards poetry. From/in/into stillness.

Not entirely an acoustic practice (John Cage – ‘silence is not acoustic, it is a change of mind, a turning around’) it is centred in attention, it is a space for recognising the inter-connection and inter-being of all things.

In this practice what lies outside the observers is re-cognised as something (with)in them (Alan Watts – everything you see you create) and that becomes the state of being, the action from which all other actions emerge.

AIRE is observing as one practices observation.

It beckons one to behold.

Bios

ÓSCAR MASCAREÑAS (ioscar.ie)

Transcendental Poet working in the fields of sound, light, movement and letters, based in Clare, Ireland. Interested in observation and attention, the poetics of everything, the power, clarity and completeness of knowing by oneself, the future of artistic inquiry and education, and the materiality of poetry which lies at the centre of observation. Lecturer and researcher in sound and trans-disciplinary practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in the University of Limerick, he also works independently as a composer, pedagogue and performer internationally.

TONY MONAHAN (tonymonahan.com)

Through his ambient compositions and works, composer Tony Monahan explores the connection between sound, space and the free-flowing unpredictable sounds of our surroundings. He is a guitarist, composer, producer and educator who has toured internationally, appeared at numerous music festivals and produced a number of recorded works, most notably with the band Protobaby and alternative duo Pity Of The Sea. Music he has written, co-written, recorded and produced has appeared on both local, national and international radio.