Tuberclerosies by Kevin Mooney

posted: Aug 27

Luan Gallery presents Tuberclerosies; A Solo Exhibition by Kevin Mooney

Luan Gallery is delighted to present Tuberclerosies, a solo exhibition by Irish Cork-based artist Kevin Mooney. The exhibition, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, will take place from Saturday, 14th September to Wednesday 20th November. Sara Greavu, Curator of Visual Arts at Project Arts Centre, will officially open the exhibition on Saturday, 14th September at 3pm. All are invited to attend.

Tuberclerosies pulls on a wide range of references, from influences such as science fiction and horror films to histories of the Irish diaspora, to art history. The show consists of newly commissioned large-scale paintings, sculptures, hybrid painting/sculptural works, and works on paper. The work further explores Mooney's interest in artmaking from multiple perspectives, with the different materials and processes functioning as several artistic voices. The varied languages of painting and sculpture can be read as created by different personas within a fictional community of artists.

One strand within this body of work is inspired by texts relating to the lives of Irish saints and the relationship between history and pre-Christian mythology in the early church. Depictions of fictional Irish art historical figures are another element of the work, using them as a lens to examine a "lost" history of Irish portraiture. Transformation and shape-shifting lie at the heart of the motifs in the paintings and sculptures and in the processes of making the work, with motifs sometimes unexpectedly changing form and other forms becoming obscured at various stages of the creation of the work. The materials in the work play with the notion of time, blending influences from folklore and mainstream European, African, and folk-art idioms to create painted and sculptural objects- hybrids both culturally and formally.

A programme of accompanying events will take place during the exhibition, including child-friendly tours, curator’s tours, a publication launch, drop-in craft workshops and school and third-level student tours. Full details will be announced after the opening. Information on the exhibition and upcoming events can be found at http://www.athloneartsandtourism.ie/luan-gallery/ and on Luan Gallery’s social channels.

Tuberclerosies will continue until Wednesday, 20th November. Luan Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and from 12 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. Admission to the gallery is free, and guided tours are accessible to all but require advance booking.

Supported by funding from Westmeath Arts Office%2C Creative Ireland and The Irish Arts Council.