ARTIST STATEMENT
BIO: Ferdia MagLochlainn. Born in Donegal, 1983. Graduated from the National College Art and Design, 2005.
CONTACT: info@ferdia.ie
INSTRAGRAM: instagram.com/ferdia.ie
BLOG: ferdiamaglochlainn.wordpress.com
ORDER PRINTS: society6.com/FerdiaMagLochlainn
DRAWING: The work uses drawing to examine the history of photography and its use as a means documentation and mass communication, in particular the role of portraiture in its evolution.
Much of the subject matter for this body of work is scraps of paper torn from the printed press as well as old discarded family photos. These objects are gathered and hoarded, examined and folded until they take on a character their own. Only when the extra dimension of texture and time is added are they studied and made into drawings.
The work aims to draw attention to the photographic image as a physical object, in doing so breaking the suspension of disbelief adopted while viewing photographic imagery and reminding the viewer they are looking at a representation of reality. These are drawing of photographs not from photographs.
I am concerned with ideas of identity and representation and with themes of image versus reality. The drawings with their creases, folds, tears and shadows can be seen as a manifestation of distorted representation.
PAINTING: The paintings are from an ongoing series entitled Paper Landscapes. They take their source from constructed representations of reality, as well as maps and charts that instill a geographic sense. The process begins with the gathering and hoarding of scraps of paper, amassed from the flotsam and jetsam of travel and daily life. These fragments are brought together to create representations of landscapes, real or imagined. These landscapes are a combination of places visited and evidence of the journey. They are constructed from cut up photographs, shreds of paper, crumpled magazines and creased napkins. Painted in a realistic style, everything is given equal value. The tears, shadows, fingerprints and sellotape that are a by-product of the collage making process become intrinsic to the composition of the paintings. The paintings are as much about these components as the mountains, rivers and cities they depict.
I am attracted to the idea that a sense of place can be established through these folded and layered paper constructions. Just as memories are a jumble of images and senses, these paintings bring together different elements to create a broader idiosyncratic representation of a landscape.
PHOTOGRAPHY: My photographic work tends to stem from travel, working in the Becher model of long photographic series with a common theme.
EXHIBITIONS:
All artwork images appearing on this website are the exclusive property of Ferdia MagLochlainn and are protected under Irish and international copyright laws. The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the prior written permission of the artist. All rights reserved. © Ferdia MagLochlainn 2007 - 2016.
CONTACT: info@ferdia.ie
INSTRAGRAM: instagram.com/ferdia.ie
BLOG: ferdiamaglochlainn.wordpress.com
ORDER PRINTS: society6.com/FerdiaMagLochlainn
DRAWING: The work uses drawing to examine the history of photography and its use as a means documentation and mass communication, in particular the role of portraiture in its evolution.
Much of the subject matter for this body of work is scraps of paper torn from the printed press as well as old discarded family photos. These objects are gathered and hoarded, examined and folded until they take on a character their own. Only when the extra dimension of texture and time is added are they studied and made into drawings.
The work aims to draw attention to the photographic image as a physical object, in doing so breaking the suspension of disbelief adopted while viewing photographic imagery and reminding the viewer they are looking at a representation of reality. These are drawing of photographs not from photographs.
I am concerned with ideas of identity and representation and with themes of image versus reality. The drawings with their creases, folds, tears and shadows can be seen as a manifestation of distorted representation.
PAINTING: The paintings are from an ongoing series entitled Paper Landscapes. They take their source from constructed representations of reality, as well as maps and charts that instill a geographic sense. The process begins with the gathering and hoarding of scraps of paper, amassed from the flotsam and jetsam of travel and daily life. These fragments are brought together to create representations of landscapes, real or imagined. These landscapes are a combination of places visited and evidence of the journey. They are constructed from cut up photographs, shreds of paper, crumpled magazines and creased napkins. Painted in a realistic style, everything is given equal value. The tears, shadows, fingerprints and sellotape that are a by-product of the collage making process become intrinsic to the composition of the paintings. The paintings are as much about these components as the mountains, rivers and cities they depict.
I am attracted to the idea that a sense of place can be established through these folded and layered paper constructions. Just as memories are a jumble of images and senses, these paintings bring together different elements to create a broader idiosyncratic representation of a landscape.
PHOTOGRAPHY: My photographic work tends to stem from travel, working in the Becher model of long photographic series with a common theme.
EXHIBITIONS:
- 2013 Proof It, Black Church Print Studio, 4 Templebar, Dublin
- 2012 Up the Walls, Kings of Concrete, The Dublin Tall Ship Festival
- 2012 Word: Typography Exhibition, Little Green Street Gallery, Dublin
- 2011 Ciall, An Gailearai, Gweedore. Co. Donegal
- 2011 Upstart, Block T and the lampposts of Dublin
- 2010 The Gathering, The Mill Street Studios, Dublin
- 2010 The Thing that Bruises You, PhotoIreland Festival
- 2009 The Little Picture Show, The Crow Gallery, Templebar
- 2007 In Pursuit of a Line (Solo) Gallery One, Claire Street
- 2006 Christmas Show, Monster Truck Gallery and Studios
- 2006 Nowhere to Hibernate, XL Broadstone
- 2005 Deegre Show, NCAD, Dublin
- 2004 Thirteen Titles, Digital Hub
- 2003 Doctrine, The Lola Gallery, San Francisco
- 2000 Winter Show, Gailearí na gCroisbhealaí, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal
- 1997/8/9 An Cosan Glas, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal
- 1995 Local Artists Group Show, Workhouse, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal
All artwork images appearing on this website are the exclusive property of Ferdia MagLochlainn and are protected under Irish and international copyright laws. The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the prior written permission of the artist. All rights reserved. © Ferdia MagLochlainn 2007 - 2016.