2024
Cerberus – Strength in the body
/ BIOGRAPHY
Cerberus was formed in early 2024 in recognition of a shared creative force between the artists Deej, Rachel and Olivia. All three have significant performative archives and, as friends and artistic peers, decided to join forces to develop an unified creative entity, calling ourselves Cerberus after the three headed dog of Greek Mythology.
The three colours of red, blue and green which we utilise in our performances symbolise each of us three individuals, who each possess different abilities and traits from each other. But the three colours also serve as a reminder that the combination of all three of red, green, and blue in equal intensities makes a pure white light.
Cerberus rising, stills from a live performance, Venice, December 2024.
/ CERBERUS Artistic Statement
Cerberus is a performance collective of 3 artists – Deej Fabyc, Olivia Hassett, and Rachel Macmanus
Cerberus is written as the most terrifying creature in Greek mythology, capable of causing even the most courageous hero or warrior to flee. Positioned between our world and the netherworld, Cerberus guarded the gates that divided them so that no soul who had left the human world could return.
The three heads of the vigilant dog would sleep in turn. Thus, the beast was always awake and ready for danger. Though fierce in manner, Cerberus’ basic virtues of loyalty and devotion meant it would not abdicate its post under any circumstances.
As with Cerberus, we exist in the in-between liminal space of this world, and the netherworld, neither in nor out of either, but at the edge of both, forever on duty as the gatekeepers. We are three individuals who join as one, bound together as the three heads – representing loyalty and vigilance, remarkable strength and ferocity. We perform as one unit that divides itself into three, then remoulds itself into one, always protecting, always awake, and always on guard.
Cerberus also represents the three stages of life- youth, middle age and old age, as inspired by Cell XIV (Portrait) 2000, by Louise Bourgeois.
In depictions of Cerberus each head is often used to represent birth, youth and old age. As artists we hold all these spaces, the light heartedness coupled with the anxiety of youth, coming of age and finding your identity in middle age, and the wisdom of old age.
Cerberus I, stills from live performance, part of Bealtaine, Live Art Ireland, May 2024.
Photo credit: Paul Regan
Cerberus rising, stills from a live performance, Venice, December 2024.
/ Artist Biographies
Olivia Hassett is a Dublin-based artist who creates live art works and regularly collaborates with other performance artists and across disciplines. Working as an artist in residence in Tallaght University Hospital and collaborating with scientistsin Trinity College Dublin over the past number of years has created a vibrant and exciting framework for her exploration of notions relating to the politics and physiology of the human body. Over the past year Hassetts practice has focused on a deep exploration of how her body relates and responds to specific ancient Irish sites. Currently Hassett is developing a series of solo performances and performative video works inresponse various Neolithic sites in Ireland.
Instagram: Click here
Olivia Hassett Curiosity arts and health Two year project in Tallaght University Hospital 2023-2025 : Click here
Deej Fabyc’s work intricately weaves together performance, installation, photography, and video. Their oeuvre delves into the complexities of embodied experiences, touching on themes of neurodiversity, ageing, loss, and chronic illness through an innovative mapping of narratives that navigate through awkwardness and vulnerability, marking their presence on the international art scene since the 1980s. Since moving to Ireland in 2020 they have worked as director of Live Art Ireland, and performed at One Body at the Highlanes Gallery, in Rerooting Tallaght at Rua Red Gallery and the Here & Now festival. They recently directed and produced a collaborative grief walk in a bog -Portach Promenade, which is currently in production to become a feature length art film.
Instagram: Click here
Website : Click here
Based in Co Clare, Ireland, Rachel MacManus works through drawing, painting and performance.
Rachel holds a Masters in Fine Art, OCA (UCA) 2019 and a BA in Visual Communications, NCAD 1997 She has exhibited and performed nationally and internationally since 2016 Rachel has co-facilitated Creative Circles, a monthly meeting for Clare based Creatives since 2021. She is runs Co. Clare based art collective Negative Space, who have painted over 40 public art works in Co Clare since 2022. In 2023 Rachel founded Here and Now; a performance art collective, and co-facilitates p(art)y Here and Now- a monthly participatory performance art event in Ennis. Co Clare. Rachel is a member of Visual Artists Ireland, BBeyond Live, Interface Inagh and LiveArt Ireland.
Instagram: Click here
Link to health based performance work: Click here
Cerberus on guard, stills from a performance to camera, Live Art Ireland, November 2024.