The Award Winners
Darek Fortas and Cecilia Danell
Talbot Gallery and Studios and Copper House Gallery treated us to two recipients of prestigious art prizes recently. Copper House presented Darek Fortas and his first solo show 'Coal Story', while Talbot Gallery treated us to Cecilia Danell's 'The Consoling Dream Necessity'.
Cecilia Danell, a Swedish artist based in Galway has recently received the 5th Annual Emerging Artists Award of 2011 and The Arts Council Project Award 2011, to name a few. Her work is tightly wound around a personal search for meaning amidst a contemporary lifestyle. If you will, a historical walk along a busy road. It is not difficult to see that her native heritage is the informant for subject matter and concept. Her paintings, such as 'Within Range', depict forests showcasing mainly the trunks of trees rather than branches or leaves. This view within the paintings allow them to seem familiar, almost as if the viewer has been welcomed into a snapshot of a previous memory. The highlight of the show was 'Build your own Scandinavian Loneliness'. Construct a house and scenery from a cardboard box filled with felt, branches and a flat-pack house. It reminded me of a trip to Ikea. Flat-pack heaven coupled with accessible genius. This piece opened up the argument of 'Art for Everyone'. It allowed the viewer, at the price of 40 euro, to take home a do-it-yourself art piece. I carried two Felix Gonzalez-Torres pieces home from the 2007 Venice Biennale and am ashamed to say I have never framed or mounted either but are neatly rolled up and stored. I fear 'Build your own Scandinavian Lonliness' could find a similar end. At 40 euro each though, its a bargain for this up-and-comer.
The potential of this artist is evident in her application of the paint. Danell has developed her own style, but, has not quite reached her full potential yet. One of the most exciting aspects of an up-and-coming artist is watching them devlop and hone their style. This one will be interesting, so, watch this space!
'Coal Story' by Darek Fortas is elegantly beautiful. The winner of Propeller 2011 and a graduate of DIT, Fortas faught off competition from the other talented finalists: Anna Wickham (DIT), Ronan McCall (IADT), Dee O'Shea (NCAD) and Dorje de Burgh (IADT) and launched Propeller 2012 with his solo show. Steeped in history, this exhibition brings to life the miners at JSW, the largest coal mine in Europe. Set in Poland, this mine played it's own part in aiding the cause against Communist rule in 1980 with the origination of the workers' and citizens campaign, Solidarity. Submerging the viewer in the past through photographic documentation is a practice used by many and intends to create a bond between the viewer, subject and artist. This is, to a great degree, successful here. However, Fortas' impeccable technical ability, use of colour and acquisition of a particularly intriguing subject matter has brought it to a new level. Striking portraits and images of items losing their charm through the ravages of time, encapsulate the viewer in an almost 'other wordly' experience. The view of the miner's changing room has been described perfectly by Conor McDevitt of www.lecool.com as '...an ominously empty space with its ceiling covered in a thicket of clothes and boots hoisted on chains off the floor.' One of the most striking pieces is a black and white photograph of two seated miners smoking cigarettes and looking at the camera (Miners after Work). One of them stripped for the photograph and both have soot, dirt and grime on their faces and hands. The dirt resembles make-up to the extent that I was reminded of a Nan Goldin photograph of a drag queen. It holds the same affectionate poignancy.
Apart from the images themselves, and Fortas' technical ability, it is worth mentioning that the quality of the prints and the manner in which they are presented (diamond polished acrylic - available at Fire www.fire.ie). These have enabled the pieces to acquire that professional quality, which, when coupled with obvious talent and skill, create flawless work.
Darek Fortas is a breath of fresh air into the artistic community. I cannot recommend this show enough.
Talbot Gallery and Studios: Cecilia Danell, 'The Consoling Dream Necessity' until February 4th
www.talbotgallery.com
Copper House Gallery: Darek Fortas, 'Coal Story' until February 3rd
http://thecopperhousegallery.wordpress.com/
www.fire.ie
Cecilia Danell, a Swedish artist based in Galway has recently received the 5th Annual Emerging Artists Award of 2011 and The Arts Council Project Award 2011, to name a few. Her work is tightly wound around a personal search for meaning amidst a contemporary lifestyle. If you will, a historical walk along a busy road. It is not difficult to see that her native heritage is the informant for subject matter and concept. Her paintings, such as 'Within Range', depict forests showcasing mainly the trunks of trees rather than branches or leaves. This view within the paintings allow them to seem familiar, almost as if the viewer has been welcomed into a snapshot of a previous memory. The highlight of the show was 'Build your own Scandinavian Loneliness'. Construct a house and scenery from a cardboard box filled with felt, branches and a flat-pack house. It reminded me of a trip to Ikea. Flat-pack heaven coupled with accessible genius. This piece opened up the argument of 'Art for Everyone'. It allowed the viewer, at the price of 40 euro, to take home a do-it-yourself art piece. I carried two Felix Gonzalez-Torres pieces home from the 2007 Venice Biennale and am ashamed to say I have never framed or mounted either but are neatly rolled up and stored. I fear 'Build your own Scandinavian Lonliness' could find a similar end. At 40 euro each though, its a bargain for this up-and-comer.
The potential of this artist is evident in her application of the paint. Danell has developed her own style, but, has not quite reached her full potential yet. One of the most exciting aspects of an up-and-coming artist is watching them devlop and hone their style. This one will be interesting, so, watch this space!
'Coal Story' by Darek Fortas is elegantly beautiful. The winner of Propeller 2011 and a graduate of DIT, Fortas faught off competition from the other talented finalists: Anna Wickham (DIT), Ronan McCall (IADT), Dee O'Shea (NCAD) and Dorje de Burgh (IADT) and launched Propeller 2012 with his solo show. Steeped in history, this exhibition brings to life the miners at JSW, the largest coal mine in Europe. Set in Poland, this mine played it's own part in aiding the cause against Communist rule in 1980 with the origination of the workers' and citizens campaign, Solidarity. Submerging the viewer in the past through photographic documentation is a practice used by many and intends to create a bond between the viewer, subject and artist. This is, to a great degree, successful here. However, Fortas' impeccable technical ability, use of colour and acquisition of a particularly intriguing subject matter has brought it to a new level. Striking portraits and images of items losing their charm through the ravages of time, encapsulate the viewer in an almost 'other wordly' experience. The view of the miner's changing room has been described perfectly by Conor McDevitt of www.lecool.com as '...an ominously empty space with its ceiling covered in a thicket of clothes and boots hoisted on chains off the floor.' One of the most striking pieces is a black and white photograph of two seated miners smoking cigarettes and looking at the camera (Miners after Work). One of them stripped for the photograph and both have soot, dirt and grime on their faces and hands. The dirt resembles make-up to the extent that I was reminded of a Nan Goldin photograph of a drag queen. It holds the same affectionate poignancy.
Apart from the images themselves, and Fortas' technical ability, it is worth mentioning that the quality of the prints and the manner in which they are presented (diamond polished acrylic - available at Fire www.fire.ie). These have enabled the pieces to acquire that professional quality, which, when coupled with obvious talent and skill, create flawless work.
Darek Fortas is a breath of fresh air into the artistic community. I cannot recommend this show enough.
Talbot Gallery and Studios: Cecilia Danell, 'The Consoling Dream Necessity' until February 4th
www.talbotgallery.com
Copper House Gallery: Darek Fortas, 'Coal Story' until February 3rd
http://thecopperhousegallery.wordpress.com/
www.fire.ie
