THE CARNY Genieve Figgis / Nevan Lahart / Maureen O’Connor / Marcel Vidal PREVIEW Thursday 6 February, 6-8 PM 7 February – 1 March 2014 OPEN FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 12 – 6 PM The Carny invites responses to the idea of the visual, and the presentation of 'work' in the gallery space. The works in the show battle for autonomy, disparate works juxtaposed in this one room gallery. These visceral works alter the physical relationship the viewer may ordinarily have when entering the gallery, and set out to define and repel any sense of meaning. All of the work in the show references to some degree an awareness of or nod to history in their making, but display an irreverential ‘fuck you’ upon their first encounter. The exhibition also features a one-sheet newspaper style poster with images for each artist – this can be picked up free from the gallery or mailed out on request. Genieve Figgis explores how people choose to represent themselves in history, art and culture. Attempting to address with what is hidden, the work is in response to the idea of portraiture. Drawing from contemporary and historical resources where truths are buried and images fictionalised. The paint allows opportunities to develop which the portrait offers with its drama and its spectacle. Painted on frame mounted wood, the stage becomes a place to herald the narcissism of portraiture, allowing the paint to describe the spectacle. Nevan Lahart makes irreverent social commentaries in his work, often highly politically charged and full of humour. However this use of wit and irony is always matched with a profound investigation into the history of art and contemporary art’s position within the ‘real’ world. Maureen O’Connor’s painting methods employ a technical engagement with disorder, in an effort to concede to a personal strangeness. The imagery is built from misshapen combinations of materials and references, embedded with the circumstances they depict, to pose curiously mixed configurations. Marcel Vidal's practice focuses on drawing, sculpture and building site-specific installations. Vidal creates unsettling paintings and objects that are imbued with iconography. Materials of a discarded and manufactured nature are often reclaimed and configured. The reconfigured materials are used as a means of improvised arrangement and act as counter points to formal methods of display. To be added to the mailing list, please email us at the email address below. FLOOD, Unit 3, JAMES JOYCE STREET, DUBLIN 1, IRELAND WWW.FLOODDUBLIN.COM INFO@FLOODDUBLIN.COM Contact Paul McAree +353 (0) 86 793 1617 FLOOD is kindly supported by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council Arts Office and Lismore Castle Arts. |