FÙIRNEIS is a sound and sculpture installation exploring the industrial, social and environmental legacy of the eighteenth-century Bonawe Iron Furnace in Argyll. It collects field recordings, archives and materials to connect the unseen histories, varied legacies and environmental manipulations of the ironworks.

FÙIRNEIS considers the materiality of the smelting process, which transformed iron ore into pig iron to make various commodities. It highlights obsidian-like slag (a by-product of the furnace) and charcoal used to power the furnace, sourced from Green Aspirations Scotland. Charcoal has been cast in iron, reflecting the centrality of this fuel and the importance of colliers (makers of charcoal). Layered sound recordings of a charcoal burn suggest the sensory experience that would have been present in the forests of Argyll, which now show few traces of their industrial history to the passing visitor.

This work was displayed alongside an archival mateirals such as coppicing tools, guide books relating to the site, a website, maps and slag and charcoal for visitors to feel and examine. FÙIRNEIS created an open-source website of research and sources used in the project, which further explored and contextualised the industrial, social, and environmental legacies of Bonawe Iron Furnace and how it shaped the existing landscape. This was displayed as part of the exhibition 🔗 BONAWE_
 

Thanks to support from CHARTS, Historic Environment Scotland for access to Bonawe Iron Furnace, Rody Gorman for Gealic Translations and Green Aspirations for providing Scottish charcoal and facilitating sound recording of their second charcoal burn of 2023, and technical teams at Scottish Sculpture Workshop and Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Sound supported and developed with Listen Gallery.

Funded by Creative Scotland.