"The Artists Eye Galaxy": A Collective Vision of La Catedral Studios

Dublin 8 — La Catedral Studios (LCS) transformed its façade into a cosmic celebration of artistic vision with "The Artists Eye Galaxy", a groundbreaking collaborative photographic conceptual installation by resident artist and photographer Fabio Grassi. The project captures the irises of the Studios’ whole creative community, each reimagined as a unique “galaxy” — a portal into the soul of the artists. At the center of the installation are the striking eyes of Ophelia, the Studios’ cat, serving as a playful and poetic focal point. Together, this visual “galaxy” forms a visual constellation that reflects both the individuality and the collective creative spirit of the LCS community.

"The Artists Eye Galaxy" is part of La Catedral Studios’ architectural installation project, turning its charming Victorian façade into a living artwork that communicates personal and collective narratives. Supported by the Liberties Business Forum, the installation encourages the public to engage with the building as a dynamic canvas that reflects the energy, imagination, and shared ethos of its resident artists.

Fabio Grassi, a resident at La Catedral Studios since 2023, is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller whose work has evolved from wildlife photography to exploration of the human identity, introspection, and the poetic resonance of everyday life. Since 1983, he has captured candid moments across diverse contexts, from artists at work and dynamic performances to intimate community events. His work seeks to inspire audiences to see the world through different perspectives, unlocking new ways of thinking, feeling, and connecting.

Grassi’s recent projects include "Gracing Freedom: Lyrical Portraits in Search of Authenticity", blending photography, text, and sound to create immersive, reflective experiences. Through "The Artists Eye Galaxy", he extends this approach to a collective scale, transforming individual artistic identities into a visual miscellany that celebrates collaboration, creativity, and the shared spirit of LCS.

Co-founded in 2005 by Antonella Scanu, La Catedral Studios has grown from a labour of love into a vibrant eclectic hub for Dublin-based artists. Housed in a reclaimed former clothing factory in the heart of D8, the Studios provide a dynamic, collaborative environment where creativity flourishes across multiple disciplines. Central to LCS’s mission is fostering connections with the local community and contributing to the cultural vibrancy of the Liberties. Through its participation in major events such as Culture Date with Dublin 8 and Open House Dublin, and through ongoing in-house projects such as "The Artists Eye Galaxy", the Studios continually transform both the physical and cultural local landscape, making art visible, accessible, and embedded within the life of the neighbourhood.

For more information, visit www.lacatedralstudios.com and Fabio Grassi

To delve deeper into the ideas behind the work, we sat down with Fabio Grassi to discuss the inspiration, philosophy, and creative process behind "The Artists Eye Galaxy".

What inspired the concept of "The Artists Eye Galaxy", and why did you choose to focus on the irises of the Studios’ members?
The inspiration actually came from an installation I once saw in a small Tuscan village called Peccioli. There, a local artist had photographed parts of the eyes — mainly the irises and areas around the eyes — of all the villagers and displayed them across the walls of the church and nearby buildings. I found it fascinating because it involved everyone in the community. It was a way of recognising the people as individuals, while also celebrating them as a collective whole.
That project stayed with me. When we began working on "The Artists Eye Galaxy", I initially photographed both the iris and the band across the eye, without a clear idea yet of where it would go. The original concept wasn’t even about galaxies — I just wanted to capture the images and see what could emerge from them.
At first, I tried different compositions — one idea was to create a larger eye made up of many smaller irises — but it didn’t feel quite right. Eventually, I realised that arranging them as a constellation, like galaxies, gave them both clarity and meaning. Each iris could be seen individually, but together they formed something collective — a kind of cosmic community. So, "The Artists Eye Galaxy" became a metaphor for that: each artist a unique universe, yet all part of one shared constellation.
At the center, of course, are the eyes of Ophelia — the Studios’ cat — who became the symbolic heart of the piece, playful and poetic at once.

How do you see the relationship between the “inner universe” of each artist and the collective energy of the community reflected in this installation?
The eye — and the iris in particular — is one of the most powerful sensory symbols of human perception. As humans, so much of our understanding of the world depends on vision. It guides our motivation, our direction, even our emotions.
By photographing eyes, I’m essentially reversing that process. Normally, the eyes look out into the world — but here, we’re looking into the eyes. It becomes an introspective experience. Especially when you’re confronted with your own eye, it’s disorienting at first — a part of yourself that you never actually see.
Some people find that strange; others find it moving. Most reactions, interestingly, are of surprise and wonder — “Oh my God, that’s my eye!” There’s a sense of beauty, curiosity, even pride. It creates a moment of connection — both with oneself and with others — that’s deeply human and profoundly positive.

In what ways does photographing intimate details like eyes allow you to explore themes of identity, perception, and human connection?
That’s an interesting question. The eye — particularly the iris — is one of our key sensors. As humans, we rely heavily on sight; it’s the sense that shapes how we perceive the world, how we move through it, and even how we define ourselves. Vision drives our motivation — it’s at the core of how we connect to reality.
So, when you focus on the eye, you’re not just photographing a physical detail — you’re looking straight into the centre of perception itself. It’s fascinating because it reverses the usual direction of vision: instead of us looking out at the world, we are now being looked at, almost invited to look inward.
When you photograph someone’s iris, there’s a strange, intimate sensation — it feels as if you’re confronting your own reflection, your own universe in a way. Sometimes it’s unsettling, but it’s also beautiful. It creates this mix of surprise and connection — a sense of recognising something deeply personal yet shared. That tension, between seeing and being seen, makes the experience both introspective and connective.

What personal or philosophical insights have emerged for you while working on this project, and how has it shaped your understanding of creativity and collaboration?
I guess one of the first things that struck me — and it’s not exactly a new insight, but this project made it very clear in a unique way — is that every single eye is completely different. Each iris varies in colour, in pattern, in structure, even in what feels like its texture. Every one of them is unique.
So, if all these eyes are different, it means that we each see the world differently too. It’s like a visual metaphor for perspective — every person has their own way of perceiving, interpreting, and understanding what’s around them.
That can sometimes lead to conflict, of course: “I see it this way, you see it that way.” But it can also be a chance to collaborate, to combine those perspectives into something richer, a more complete and detailed picture of reality.
It’s really a matter of choice. We can either resist those differences or embrace them. When we do the latter — when we open up to collaboration — something much more powerful happens: unity through diversity, a shared way of seeing that still preserves individuality.
And you know, maybe this should be a podcast or a video series — because conversations like this actually mean something. That’s why the project resonates for me.