Rua Red Winter Open 2017
14 December 2017 - 20 January 2018
Winter Open Exhibition is an annual exhibition of work from throughout the whole island of Ireland, chosen from an open submission call by Rua Red.
I exhibited my piece from the NCAD Degree show, Mute at the Verge.
Mute at the Verge is an installation comprised of a desk lamp, a table, and two etchings. It is part of a body of work that examines and articulates a sense of place. In a world where one can now photograph instantly, the idea of settling with one image is difficult. The nature of etching means that a long process is undertaken to reach a final resolution.The reference image for Kissing Gate was taken on a phone camera, then reconsidered and mediated through etching. This is an attempt to give the site pictured a sustained, weighted presence through repeated examination. This site has historic links to textile factories, and triggers associations with tactile memory, muscle memory and repetitive tasks. In response to Kissing Gate, the etching on the table is abstract, quiet. The viewer is deliberately positioned to look down at the print, taking on a restful, contemplative stance, with the desk lamp alluding to the study being undertaken. It explores the nature of print as a methodology, showing the surface deterioration of the back of a copper plate after the printing process, and also the surface deterioration of the table that has been scratched and worn with years of use. The duality between image and surface noise in this artwork is an effort to communicate memory, history, and displacement.