One Cork performer is reaching new depths as an artist — both in a figurative and literal sense.
Former ballet dancer Natasha Bourke has made a bold decision to stage her one woman show for this year’s Cork Midsummer Festival entirely in a swimming pool.
features a blend of live performance and audio visual elements and has the Gus Healy Swimming Pool in Cork as its rather unique venue.
While swimming pools, for some, might conjure up images of speedos and floating verruca bandages, Natasha has a more romantic view of these types of public spaces.
“I have an interest in the psychology of space — and that might all sound very high-falutin.
“However, for me, a swimming pool is a very interesting social space. It’s very unique.
“There’s not many other spaces like it. It’s a space where people aren’t wearing a lot of clothes making them that little bit more vulnerable.”
Natasha has a history of using public spaces to showcase her art. Last year saw the artist, who grew up in Cobh, showcase her feature film ‘Concrete Keys’ which was primarily shot at the former Cork tax office and FÁS building. The movie focused on the historical building during the month leading up to its closure.
Natasha’s latest project began more than a decade ago when swimming became part of her rehabilitation routine following an injury sustained during an aerial performance.
“I was initially dreaming about this work 12 years ago when I was left lying on my back. I was a professional aerialist but I had to stop because my body couldn’t do it anymore.
“I was quite badly injured so, like a lot of art, this came from a place of pain. At the time I was going to swimming pools to rehabilitate while feeling quite low in myself. At the same time I was having this sort of imagining that I would do some sort of an artwork in a swimming pool.”
The performance is intertwined with elements from Natasha’s everyday life and includes featured recordings of her parents’ voices.
It also features some quirky props including an oversized washing machine and real life currach to boot.
She says the location is known to generations of Cork people.
“I’m very conscious of the building and its importance to so many people.
“This is the oldest public swimming pool left in Cork so it’s very lovely to be presenting this work in that space.
“There’s also a feeling associated with a late ’70s building that it could be under threat at some point with our constantly changing and progress-obsessed culture.
“I’m bringing a personal story and some thoughts to the table while at the same time giving the swimming pool some sort of a voice.
“While I’m bringing my own story to the table I’m also very conscious of honouring that building and facility. I really hope I can manage to do that.”
• The show runs from Tuesday, June 18, to Friday, June 21 at 10.15pm.
• For more information, visit CorkMidsummer.com and see the ‘Irish Examiner’s’ coverage here.
