ANCESTORS
5 short films
2021
Following the success of Underwave, sculptor Bettina Seitz collaborates with videographers Fionn Rogers and Peter Martin to create Ancestors; a sculptural installation of ghost-like, life-size figures representing the former inhabitants of an uninhabited island off the Sligo coast. Inspired by their daily lives and custodial role on the island, this site-responsive installation explores how our ancestors lived in close contact with the natural world. It is also an enquiry into the continuity between our distant ancestors and us, and whether we can find our place as part of an interconnected natural world again.
The 11 life-size sculptures for the films were cast over life models and selected objects using Jesmonite composite, recycled clothes and hessian.
Ancestors Chapter 1
Ancestors Chapter 2
Ancestors Chapter 3
Ancestors Chapter 4
Ancestors Chapter 5
Ancestors Production Team
Sculptor, Writer & Director Bettina Seitz
Director of Photography Peter Martin
Second Camera Fionn Rogers
Sound Designer Joe Hunt
Production Manager Maurice Power
Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke
PR Kate Bowe Communications
Social Media Denise Rushe
Produced by Tread Softly
Assistants to Bettina Seitz
Jude Clarke | Barra Cassidy | Finola McFadden | Maura Logue | Shelagh Brennan | Valli Schafer
Production Assistants
Donncadh O Callaghan | Jude Clarke
Boatman
Niall Henry
Bettina Seitz and Tread Softly gratefully acknowledges the support of the following people in the making of Ancestors
Jann Canham | John Carton (harbour master) | Nikki Corcoran |Nancy Rooney | Lauren Donaghy | Sam Purcell | Sligo Yacht Club & Sligo County Council
We also gratefully acknowledge the support of Sligo County Council, IT Sligo, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, The Model, Hawk’s Well Theatre and Cairde for streaming Ancestors on their social media platforms and RTE for featuring Ancestors on their culture page.
