Hoaretraits Ep. 5: Zeitgeist Irland 24 artist Francis Heery

Hoaretraits is a new series by photographer and podcaster Neil Hoare, that presents contemporary Irish artists that are part of Zeitgeist Irland 24 – the year’s cultural programme of contemporary arts from Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany. Conceived of by Hoare as ‘audio portraits’, the podcasts explore themes of creativity, imagination and craft in conversation a diverse range of Irish artists living in both Ireland and Germany.

For Episode 5, Neil Hoare talks with Francis Heery. Heery is a composer and sound artist from Co. Galway. Drawing inspiration from science-fiction, and occultism, his work often combines modular synths, acoustic instruments, and Software for immersive, site-specific performances. He holds a Ph.D. in Composition and an M.Phil. in Music and Media Technologies, with his music featured at festivals and conferences in Europe and the U.S. As the artistic director of Topographies, a mini-festival held at Berlin’s PAS venue presented by Contemporary Music Centre Ireland and supported by the Zeitgeist Irland 24 initiative, Heery brought together Irish composers and performers for concerts, live discussions, and networking events. In addition to his compositions, Heery produces experimental electronica as The Cube of Unknowing, exploring new sonic landscapes through improvisation and sound design.

Podcaster Neil Hoare is a multidisciplinary Irish artist living in Berlin with his dog Púca. His most recent photographic work ‘A Heimat away from Home’ is a series of portraits commissioned by the Embassy of Ireland in Germany documenting the Irish who made Germany their home since Ireland joined the EU 50 years ago. The experience of photographing so many people across Germany and hearing their stories led directly to the creation of Hoaretraits.