An exhibition of painting works by Sheila Rennick, Hugh McCarthy and Thomas Brezing.
All three artists work extensively in paint. This show is a celebration of their distinctive approaches and use of paint in their strong practices.
The characters in Sheila Rennick’s paintings are derived from photographs, stories and passing moment or events. She mixes reality and the everyday with imaginary elements. Her work can be ironic and at other times it can be simple and direct with its intentions. Painted in thick brushstrokes in sweet pastels with shades of darkness, she works directly onto the canvas from collage and carefully selected imagery.
Hugh McCarthy work incorporates an eclectic range of visual references, including Chinese and Japanese landscape painting, European and American modernism and neo pop to graffiti and street art. This unique style moves from landscape to abstraction with energetic, colourful fanciful doodles and sophisticated line drawings and by juxtaposing disparate elements, such as biomorphic and mechanical forms, masculine and feminine elements, he establishes a sense of tension throughout.
Thomas Brezing deals with the transient and fragile elements of human constructs – both physical and psychological. Human vulnerability, mortality and our capacity for collective self-delusion are all undercurrents in the work. With Brezing, however, the message is always oblique, never direct. He has been nominated for the 2010 AIB Prize and this will be an opportunity to see new works by Thomas.
The exhibition runs at the McKenna Gallery, Riverbank Arts Centre until 21st December. Admission is free. Paintings are for sale. See www.riverbank.ie or call 045 433480 for further details.
