Beneath Our Feet: Art and Archaeology interpreting Cork's medieval past

In the winter of 2021–22, a major archaeological excavation at 92–96 North Main Street uncovered 12 timber buildings dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, offering rare insights into the everyday lives of Cork’s early inhabitants.

In 2024, Cork City Council Archaeologist Ciara Brett and artist-archaeologist John Sunderland launched a project to interpret these findings through the lens of contemporary art, beginning with a research phase, including a public talk at St. Peter’s Cork. The response helped shape the project’s core questions: What was it like to live in medieval Cork? What does it feel like to experience an excavation?

In 2025 the project moves into production and exhibition. Artists John Sunderland, Sara Baume, and Matt Durran are creating new work inspired by the excavation. Each brings a unique perspective: Baume is crafting a large-scale painted installation evoking an iconography of medieval Cork; Durran is developing sculptural glass works during a residency at NCAD; and Sunderland explores the intersection of art and science through layered, minimalist compositions.

The exhibition will run from 20 September to 4 October at St. Peter’s, just steps from the original excavation site. It will feature drawings, sculpture, photography, installation, and an oral history element. A programme of public events, including artist-led tours and talks, will accompany the exhibition. 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.