Chris Finnegan is a visual artist from Cork City working across photography, sculpture, and participatory practice. Working with young people and adults in different settings, Chris’ practice sees him continuously developing methodologies for collaboration at the intersection of play and art making.

Play This Way looked at early years play and took inspiration from modernist child-centred pedagogies such as the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches, as well as Simon Nicholson’s loose parts play theory.

During the residency, Chris tested play materials and transformed the studio into a dedicated early years play space. These materials had been developed in collaboration with children in EY educational settings in Cork City.

Following this period of testing, the space opened to early years children and their families. Children were invited to interact with the space and materials – exploring, playing, imagining and having fun. As the space changed and evolved as a participatory installation, Chris documented the results of the children’s play; with photographic documentation accumulating in the space in different formats throughout the exhibition.