Dwelling

Installation, work in progress

Work in progress!

Where I'm at, January 2012

I take inspiration from the role of the archaeologist, investigator and digger, exploring the concept of objects as a container and symbol for our actions, experiences and memories. The purpose of my work is to explore and attempt to make sense of the material world and built environment created by humans.

Previous work has been preoccupied with the recurring image of the house, symbolising a person’s need for shelter and protection.  The use of recurrent motifs or themes is an integral part of my work.  I use words combined with images of tents, ships, boxes, books and other material things to connect to thoughts and emotions in the past.  These ideas demonstrate the role of the archaeologist who tries to grasp the human meanings that were held to artefacts, searching for traces of the human mind in the archaeological record.  

Through the medium of printmaking, 3D installations and photography combined I investigate the idea of an object as something with a real presence above being purely functional as a venue or shelter.  Light also plays an important part in my work, creating an atmospheric space and turning lifeless objects into living, breathing beings. 

Recent bodies of work have focused on an exploration of thoughts about the ‘pilgrim’ or ‘traveller’.  The tent is used as a metaphor to express abstract concepts of the mysterious place of sanctuary and survival; the ship a symbol of pilgrimage, salvation of the soul and sanctuary.  Influences spring from various historical sources- the museum, ancient sites, Paleolithic art, hieroglyphics, medieval Christian motifs as well as that of the marginal society. All materials worked by human hands recount something about themselves and about us, to where connected ideas emerge. 

Studio shot, November 2011

Prep work for the Cashel Arts Fest, Nov 2011. Theme of birds and animals. I'm working on monoprints, relief prints and collographs

Art Work Embassy

The Elysian, Eglinton Street
Saturday 19th November – Sunday 4th December

As part of the Art Trail Festival in Cork this year there was a large-scale exhibition event (Art Work Embassy) in the cavernous space of The Elysian which brought together artists and artworks from a wide range of artists, groups and organisations in the City and surrounding areas. Art Work Embassy was designed as the hub of the festival, a meeting point, a space for artist talks, interactive and participative projects, the starting point for studio visits, and the site of a developing and flexible programme of activities. 

http://www.arttrail.ie/?page_id=425

As a member of the Backwater Artist's Group I exhibited the installation piece below, which is still a work in progress.

"As I walked through the wilderness of this world I lighted on a place where was a den"

 The title of this piece comes from the opening sentence of the book A Pilgrim's Progress.  Both the title of the book and the sentence seemed very relevant to my work at the moment as I've been concentrating alot on the idea of the 'traveller' and the search for a sanctuary in unknown territories.  

The houses are made from pages of the book which have been printed onto with drypoint and monoprints.

A plaster couch and armchairs hidden in one of the boxes

The Backwater Artists Group at Ar Work Embassy, The Elysian

These guys lived in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition.  They definitely stole the show!