New Exhibition Opening
“Monumentality and Fragility” at Kilkenny National Gallery, Kilkenny. This Exhibition runs from 9th Feb till Jun 2019 and features the work of one of our long term members Niki Collier.
For anyone in the community this is a great opportunity to see some wonderful new works.
Niki Collier
Niki Collier’s work is distinguished for intimate understanding of handmade craftsmanship. Her narrative is informed by science and community. It sits at the convergence of science and art to create conversations about empowerment, balance and resilience. From the oversized microorganisms to the soft gigantic pebbles each piece is devised by materials and techniques that show dedication to origin and legacy. The large and small sculptures that she develops have been shown in several solo exhibitions as well as curated in group shows both nationally and internationally.
Sculptures of Viruses
Sculptures of three viruses Common Cold, Hepatitis B and Herpes Virus. Each of these has disrupted our contemporary culture by changing our conversation on monumental and fragile.
Viruses as living organisms are still both a challenge and a mystery regardless of our scientific advances. Doctors as part of the current perception of ”The Establishment” are often held hostage to our perception of them being heroes rather than humans. Here the concept of small and significant are juxtaposed using scientific concepts to mirror our own fears. As viruses are necessary ingredient to life on our planet the destruction of them explores what is an act of heroism and an act of fear? The interrelation between personal fears – our vulnerability and resilience and how they influence macro decisions related to health and life. It is also a dialogue of what makes an object beautiful to us- its form or its function?
The works are developed as wet felted sculptures.
The Common Cold virus is one of the best known surviving organisms on earth. It is a symbolic tale of how survival of the species is mostly about the ability to grow in change. The Herpes virus and Hep B are part of the history of gay rights as they have made the invisible visible and as such started the conversation of what we sweep under the carpet.
The viruses have been curated for DCCoI Pattern, Design Week in Bulgaria, West Cork Art Festival.
The European Prize for Applied Arts
Aims to reward the best creations of contemporary expression in applied arts and craftsmanship. It looked into monumental and fragile, the strong colour palette, exuberant proportions, the power and the violence allude to a monumental character from which a palpable fragility is released. With the European Triennial these two words were also part of the monumentality of this institution and the fragility of the nations and entities that make it up. Artists were asked to take inspiration from the paradoxical of these 2 themes-“Monumentality and Fragility”.
Feltmakers Ireland 