le cool *201

Full issue -HERE-

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The Paradise

The Douglas Hyde has become a gallery I regularly visit whilst never having been to a single opening it has hosted. This is a compliment. There are many galleries I have only ever been to for free wine of a Thursday. Here, the smaller space off the main downstairs area is where I find less 'art world' artists and more personable pieces. Not quite the current case as Andrew Vickery is described in the blurb as someone who'se served on the Gallery's Board, but the work remains charming. The room is propped with a curtained divide, row of chairs and a small theatre set with various backgrounds of Vickery's scenic paintings that act as backdrops. You have entered a miniature auditorium. You can sit and consider the artist's talent or imagine little people walking across the mountains or by rivers or you can even stand behind the set and make shadow puppets.

Complete issue -HERE-

le cool issue *147

Mbuti Textiles 

Standing up close to one of these you become incredibly aware of the shakes in every scratchy stroke, the handmade bark cloth, the mild frankness of the flowing lines. But step away, Monet, and you are faced with statement abstract designs made to give the thickest, darkest flowing, blackest definite impression. The marks don't add up to anything formally. Every sheet builds upon the last and the patterns are ordered as to become more complex across the walls of the room. I love how they've been displayed, just pinned ever so by their corners, allowed to ripple away from the wall. I find that kind of thing very seductive. This will sound so pretentious but, anyway, I have a soft spot for tribal artistry. I love the unassuming, modest mentality behind art work made for ceremonial, religious or even just ornamental reasons. I'm a city slicker.

le cool issue # 93

NCAD shows

Looking for proof that people are open to approaching things in a fresh and, more importantly, creative manner? Check out this trio of NCAD shows, dotted around the city. The MA Interim exhibition on Francis St. occupies four spaces which the students approached; two antique shops, an old restaurant and an empty store. "Half the work is how to respond to a space that isn’t a traditional white cube," says Frank Wasser, an MA student who is also co-curating Moxie Studio's show, Applause, of nearly fifty 3rd year Paint and Sculpture undergrads. Basic Space, a massive warehouse at the back of Vicar St. recently given to students for use, has allowed NCADers to think in a much larger way about their work. It's used also for exhibitions and Threads, an NCAD based collaborative group, will be showing on Wednesday. It feels exciting.

 

Shiva Linga Paintings

Shiva is male creative energy. Linga symbolises him. Sculpturally he is expressed like a phallus, but these paintings show Shiva unborn as ovals and are serene. Which they should be, each was made in northwest India for domestic meditation. Depicting not just a God but a history of worship and tradition, even entirely out of context in a gallery space they retain a contemplative aura. Shiva appeared in visual form over 5000 years ago, possibly the longest evolution of an image. A large sheet boasts The Thousand Names of Shiva. Among these are some real gems including Emitter of all Fragrance and Delight, The one with Dreadlocks, Drawing his Semen up (the Central Channel), Spiritually Intoxicated, Fond of Limbs, With Lips Suspended as Space and Earth, Best of the Best of All Gods, and Having a Great Collarbone. Sounds like my kind of guy.

 

Garvan Gallagher - Wearing Purple

These photographs delighted me. Part of the Bealtaine festival, the portraits are of folk from the artist's home town of Donegal. Growing up they blended casually into the village but now, they stand out as Senior Citizens. Gallagher gave over a large amount of control to them with each portrait taken by the subject themselves, though within the artist's specifications. He gives a sweet anecdote of his old accordion teacher dressing up in honour of the sitting. Each sitter was given a disposable camera to record their life. A car park outside Lidl appears, as do fields, sheep and garden walls. And there's Kathleen McGinley in her kitchen! I appreciated that though these elders are the postman, teachers and not artists themselves, the images captured are mostly considered, well framed shots, recorded with care.

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