Emerging artists on show in dundalk
Ashbourne and Dundalk based emerging artists Eileen O’Sullivan (22) and Eimear Murphy (22) will exhibit side by side in their show ‘In Search of Place’ at The Basement Gallery at An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk. The exhibition will open today, Wednesday 14th January and will run until 14th February 2015.
Final year fine art painting students at The National College of Art and Design, the pair established a working relationship while organising projects and exhibitions together. However it was during their exchange to The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp where they lived and worked together, that they began supporting and motivating each other in their practices.
Robert Armstrong, renowned artist and Head of Painting at NCAD is delighted for the girls. He says: “This exhibition is a great opportunity for two young artists at the beginning of their careers. Although the ‘place’ of the exhibition’s title refers to the personal and the domestic, the presentation of this show indicates that Eileen and Eimear are embarking on an enterprise that will lead to establishing a place for both of them in the art world and in the culture generally. This showcase of their work is marking a significant moment in their emerging careers.'
The exhibition ‘In search of Place’ deals with a theme of ‘Place’ through the exploration of painting in an expanded context. The exhibition looks at ideas of belonging and questions how places carry traces of humanity. Eileen’s work is concerned with the personal. Her subjects include family, the familiar and everyday objects. Eimear’s work explores the domestic environment. She concerns herself primarily with the traces human leave on spaces. They are both currently working on their final year theses and final year exhibition.