Aiden Mac Liam
Aiden Mac Liam was an Irish sculptor, active across the European landmass of Earth in the early 25th century. He was especially noted for his work with light sculptures, including his groundbreaking work with holograms and lasers.
|
|
Biography[edit]
Aiden was born in Shannon, Ireland, the eldest of five children. He grew up on a small farm with his brothers and sisters. While young, he would help the farmhands with their work, but more often than not could be found making things with the mud, or building immense sculptures on the beach near where they lived. When he was older, he took a summer job at the Ballina Photovoltaic Array, looking after the panels, and replacing them when they needed it. One day, when he was swapping out several panels, a shaft of sunlight caught one of the panels, and reflected onto another, continuing the bouncing from one to the next. Inspired, Aiden decided to try to experiment with it. He moved the old panels around, and arranged them on a nearby hillside, above the array. After several hours of moving them around, the shaft of sunlight reflected off enough disused panels, and in just the right way, that it formed the shape of a giant four-leaf clover. When his supervisor saw it, Aiden thought he'd be in trouble. However, the supervisor liked the design, and ever since then, a depiction of that light sculpture has been the logo for the Ballina Photovoltaic Array.
He told his parents the story when he returned at the end of the summer, and it was then that he decided to become a sculptor. He studied art at the University of the Arts in London, from which he graduated in 2400. After graduation, he moved back to Ireland, but settled in Dublin. He did his first commission for the European Commission in Dublin in 2403, for the 430th anniversary of the nation-state of Ireland joining the European government. It was his work here that grabbed people's attention. He has also done work for Europe's government in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg. But the epitome of his career so far has been the commission he was granted for the foyer of the Federation President's residence in Paris in 2409.
In 2401, while working on his first commission, Aiden met Gwen, who was also recently graduated from university and looking for a place to live. Aiden knew that it wasn't easy for someone to find a place to live in a new and strange city, and invited her to become a roommate of his. Over time, their relationship evolved, and in 2404, they married. They still live in Dublin together, and have two children: Christopher and Heather.
Personality[edit]
Ever the artist, Aiden's attentions will usually be divided among several different projects at once. But, like his younger brother Eoin, he's always vital and happy. He spends as much with his family as he can, and will many times take them with him when he goes to deliver commissions, making it a holiday. He is in regular contact with his parents still, and visits them every Federation Day. He has always been an active person, and is part of a small-time local rugby league. He also can be a little disorganised from time to time, though Gwen has insisted that he restrict that to a single room in their house. As such, he does maintain his own in-home studio, complete with an industrial replicator for when his needs require larger lighting implements. Many artists consider their studio to be a sacred space, but not Aiden. When safety allows, he will allow his children to come in and keep him company, and to also help him out with some of the smaller tasks. He is never unhappy when he's working.
