The title of the exhibition, This lasted until dawn…, is taken from 13th century Icelandic mythology relating to the Battle of Clontarf. This legend which influenced the work of artist Hughie O’Donoghue, also connects to an important aspect of this selection of contemporary work; a sense of heightened human experience. It highlights the intense emotional charge and energy that subtly links this collection of paintings.
This lasted until dawn… explores the language of painting and the nature of perceptual experience. It links to our individual experiences of the world, including memory, personal awareness and how we process information. Each painting questions our perception of place, space and human physicality. This is reinforced by the large scale of the work, which complements the County Buildings, and has the potential to question the relationship between man, nature and the elemental world. Visceral physicality is a connecting force between the works, offering an alternate experience of this world through the personal style of each artist. Whether this is the burning intensity of Hughie O’Donoghue’s work or the secluded pathos of Elizabeth Magill; this exhibition creates a sensory activating, thought provoking display.
Artists included in the exhibition are Basil Blackshaw, Oliver Comerford, Barrie Cooke, Diana Copperwhite, William Crozier, Elizabeth Magill, Michael Mulcahy and Hughie O’Donoghue.
Admission to the exhibition and workshops are free of charge.
