Artist Statement
The constant in my work is a love of process, of building up layers of texture, colour or shape to create the images that interest me. My work is inspired by where I am, what I am doing, whether it be in the countryside, city or on holidays. I am inspired by forests and ditches, by bright colours and patterns on the streets, by graffiti and language, by the land and its history.
I began my artistic journey through painting and drawing and in 1997 was introduced to printmaking by Taffina Flood in N.C.A.D. In 1998 I became a founder member of the Leinster Printmaking Studio in Clane Co. Kildare. I was intrigued by the process and the possibilities for experimentation and unexpected results. Despite the technical challenges , printmaking allows me to work intuitively, often through the medium of collograph which allows me to layer rich textures to create the images.
I have worked collaboratively with other artists in two major International projects ’Le Cheile’ and ‘Gwandro’ and each has given an added dimension to my work. Recently I have moved to Leitrim with its beautiful landscapes and its vibrant art scene and am delighted to be so close to the wonderful facilities at the Leitrim Sculpture centre and the print centre in Manorhamilton. I also feel very lucky to be able to work in my home studio looking out over the valley and the Glenaniff river.
A selection of my work is on display in An Rioga, New art gallery, Boyle and also in the Cluainin Co-Op shop at the Sculpture centre Manorhamilton.
Collaborative Projects
‘Le Cheile’
A collaborative project between artists from the Leinster Printmaking Studio and The Regional Print centre, Wrexham, North Wales. 2007-2012. I worked with my Welsh ‘twin’ Linda on themes of home and memory, sourcing imagery from Clongorey bog near my home and the slate mines in Wales.
‘Gwrandro’
Molla wariga (gwrando dwfn) aimed to develop deep listening and reciprocity between artists in Australia, Iwerddon and Cymru and share knowledge of each other’s cultural, linguistic and creative explorations. Stiwdio Maelor hosted a curated exhibition of the works created during the project, in September ’23, showcasing the artist’s sketchbooks and drawings as well as completed works.
Project Babel
Project Babel was an international printmaking collaboration project. Originally 335 printmakers from 40 studios in 19 countries created an artwork based on the painting “the Great Tower of Babel” (1563) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Link
Project Babel
Project Babel is an international printmaking collaboration project. Originally 335 printmakers
from 40 studios in 19 countries are creating together an artwork based on the painting “the Great
Tower of Babel” (1563) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
The idea of the project is to share the original image of the Tower in segments. The participants
remake their shared segments in their own ways using different printmaking techniques. Finally all
the works will be gathered again as a new Tower. Each artist's segment (chosen in a lottery) is
13x17cm, and the gathered image will be around 230x320cm
The result of the project will be exhibited in Galleria Ratamo (Jyväskylä, Finland) from December
14th 2023 to January 14th 2024. The opening is on December 13th, at 5pm-7pm. In the exhibition
space, every segment will also be exhibited separately and there will be info panels of all the
participating printmaking studios and their printmakers.
Project Babel's goal is to gather printmakers from all over the world and build new connections
between studios. Collaboration allows us to create artwork made with diverse printmaking methods
and styles. The process is interesting in its unpredictability; the result will emerge only when we
gather all our work together and it will differ from the original image in many interesting ways.
The ability to collaborate is an essential human characteristic. The original story to which Bruegel
referred in his painting, also indicates a human striving to create and cooperate. We feel this forms
an interesting context with regards to the present moment.
The project is run by Team Babel, a personal group consisting of four printmakers Anni Huttu,
Naoji Ishiyama, Kaisa Koljonen and Maria Pihl. They work as free artists at the printmaking studio
Ratamo in Finland, and they created this project as an event for celebrating the 10th anniversary of
Ratamo Printmaking- and Photography Centre. Ratamo is run by Jyväskylä Art Museum.
Ratamo Printmaking- and Photography Centre
https://www.jyvaskyla.fi/en/ratamo-english
Galleria Ratamo
Veturitallinkatu 6, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland
Tel. +358 50 311 8901
ratamo@jyvaskyla.fi
Open Tues-Sun 11am-6pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galleriaratamo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galleriaratamo/
Instagram of the project: https://www.instagram.com/printmaking_project_babel/
Jyväskylä Art Museum: https://www.jyvaskyla.fi/en/jyvaskyla-art-museum