The Youghal-based artist’s exhibition “Blaze” follows her previous work “Winterage” about animals on the move …
Who or what kickstarted your love of art?
I didn’t think I was good at anything, to be honest, until I started secondary school. I had a great art teacher, Bernie Heffernan, who inspired me to work hard and encouraged me to apply for art college. I studied at Limerick School of Art and Design.
Where and how do you work?
I work both outdoors and in my studio at home. I would say my subject matter moves between a real and imagined world. My palette shifts from darker tones of greens and blues combined with glowing pinks, bright blues and yellows.
Once I’ve established what I’m drawn to, my research usually takes a few months. I gather as much visual imagery as I can, then immerse myself in a subject. These images kickstart my imagination and give me a sense of the direction I want to follow. I’ll begin by painting a scene as it is, changing elements and tones that feel right for that painting.
What was the starting point for “Blaze” and its darker symbolism?
For the last eight years, I’ve been exploring and recording the Burren, Co Clare on a regular basis. I was offered month-long residencies in The Burren College of Art, which gave me the chance to immerse myself in the landscape at an intense level, but also at my own pace. It was during this time that I delved into the subject of “Winterage” – the ancient farming tradition of the seasonal movement of livestock to the Burren uplands in winter practiced for thousands of years.
While I was working on this solo exhibition, as the work developed the paintings became less about the reality of the subject and more about my own multiverse. For me, the Burren is now less of a destination and more of a mindset.
I introduced elements of extreme weather conditions based on how I was influenced by, and reacted to, often shocking climate news. That led me to research wildfires and their impact on animals.
The paintings were well underway before the LA fires this year, but that event and its new urban wastelands scorched their way into some of the work. There’s a sense of panic in The Highland and Blaze, and though the colours may seem uplifting underneath there is something more sinister at play.
What do you hope an audience will take away from these works?
Although the theme of the show is dark, of trapped wildlife and tormented pets, I hope that the viewer might see climate breakdown from a different perspective.
Need to know: “Blaze” opens at the Signal Arts Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow from March 21 to 30; @signalartscentre @diane_magee_art
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