Conor Burke

My work is predominantly focused on exploring systemic themes, be they social, political, lingual, material or meta-physical, within which I seek to highlight social relations and the dialectical interactions that are the source of change within the world. A key theme that underpins much of my work is the concept of power and class and how that finds expression in the structures that we create as a society and how it is reflected in the built environment around us. l often make drawings and paintings of specific buildings with a certain social significance and then layer them with multiple perspectives, abstracting the image to an extent in order to give expression to a deeper social meaning such as class consciousness or our relation to nature or the likes. These more philosophical concerns act mainly as a point of embarkation but which also fuel the evolution of my work throughout the creative process.

My work is often based on certain vexations towards the systemic forces that dominate contemporary society, but rather than concentrating on the negative associations of this, I prefer to look at the positive potentiality for progressive change. My work up to this point has consciously excluded figurative representations of the human form, as I’m more concerned with expressing the structural nature of systemic oppression that exist, rather than the subjective or individualistic experiences that each of us go through. My work possesses a strong Marxian influence which often underpins the social expression that I am aiming to incorporate into the work. These concerns are more about my own subjective input, they act as the driving force that under pins my creative process. My work tends to look at the common threads that exist between our manufactured environment and that of the natural world and the symbiotic structures that exist within this relationship.

Aesthetic concerns play a significant role in how the work finds expression, these deeper social and philosophical concerns at a certain point give way to the simplicity of creating a visually pleasing image or structure. Aesthetics I feel It are important with regard to our collective need for order and symmetry in relation to making a connection with the viewer. Which in essence is actually a material reflection of these deeper systemic themes that I an attempting to address. My work often tends to start off with a simple image, design or text that appeals to me, and through a process of drawing or writing it evolves and incorporates various different elements throughout, I tend not to start off with a comprehensive plan but rather a loose outline and I just let the project evolve as I go, this method allows the work to take on a life of its own which can lead to sometimes unexpected and interesting results.

Luke Reidy

Architectural structures and the impact they have on their surroundings are often perceived as works of art. I have always had a fascination with form and balance in architecture and in particular I love the simplicity I can evoke with this. Through screen-printing I rebuild structures using simple shapes, vibrant colours and overlapping transparent layers. My architectural structures are broken down into the simplest forms folding and unfolding, using depths and planes which orientate in space as the flat image becomes almost three dimensional. The introduction of organic curved shapes brings a new dimension which contrasts with my sharp architectural forms and the inspiration for these shapes was drawn from the coast where I grew up in Co.Clare.

My use of colour highlights the depth of these unique forms and gives them visual energy. My vision is to create work that is clean, crisp and confident, structures with strong visual impact and complement modern-day
interiors.

Dani Gill

Dani is a writer, curator and creative producer based in the west of Ireland. She was the Director of Cúirt International Festival of Literature (2011-2016) and has also worked with Galway Theatre Festival, Ennis Bookclub Festival, Decadent Theatre Company, Words Ireland, County Councils, Arts Centres and venues nationwide.
In 2017 her debt poetry collection After Love was published by Salmon Poetry and went on to be made into a dance/theatre show that premiered at Galway International Arts Festival in 2021. Her next collection Lessons in Kindness will be published in Spring 2023. She also writes fiction and is currently under commission to write a theatre piece.
In 2022 she founded Match in the Dark, a writer support and advocacy platform.
She is also the Artistic Director of The Lighthouse Project, a site-specific collaborative process where artists respond to lighthouses and their environments around Ireland.

Jeanne Sheridan

I am originally from Galway and became heavily influenced by the landscapes and colours around me. My family and I moved to NEw Zealand 4 years ago and since my arrival I have loved indulging my curiosity in the natural landscape. New Zealand has a lot in common with Ireland with its ruggedness and vibrancy. I completed my diploma in ceramics through Otago polytechnic in Auckland studio potters and have been teaching local pottery classes for the past 2 years in Auckland. On my return to the emerald isles, The continued focus of my works will be an exploration of the world around us and the textural elements found in the natural environment.

David Whelan

Whelan’s work is uniquely his own, mixing humour and surrealism to make fun, colourful, funny artwork. Whelan originally studied Printmaking but has now branched out into a variety of different mediums, including creating comics, 3D artwork and digital art. Whelan uses a mixture of dreams, his own background and storytelling to influence and create his unique pieces of art.

Conor Burke

My artistic practice deals with the dialectical processes inherent in the realm of the built environment. Through my work, I seek to unravel the complex interplay between change and power relations that shape our built environment. The built environment serves as a reflection of our society’s values, aspirations, and power structures. It is a physical manifestation of the dialectical relationship between those who hold power and those who are subject to it. My artistic exploration delves into the various layers of this relationship, highlighting the subtle negotiations, conflicts, and compromises that occur during processes of change. In my practice, I employ a variety of mediums, including sculpture, installation, drawing and mixed media, to capture and convey the complexities of this process. Through the juxtaposition of materials, forms, and narratives, I seek to create thought-provoking visual experiences that invite viewers to reflect upon the power dynamics at play within the built environment. Ultimately, my artistic practice seeks to stimulate contemplations about the dialectical processes of change and power relations in the built environment. By capturing the nuances and complexities of these dynamics through artistic expression, I hope to encourage viewers to question, challenge, and envision alternative futures that challenge the status quo.

Austin Ivers

Austin Ivers is a Galway based artist and educator, lecturing in Contemporary Art at GMIT. Having initially studied printmaking in LSAD and CCAD, his practice has been almost exclusively digital (durational and still) objects for over 20 years. Austin has had one-person shows in the Galway Arts Centre, 126 and the Dock, Carrick-on Shannon and exhibited in group shows including the RHA Annual & Tulca.