3 February -31 March 2019
And the tide was way out was an exhibition of new art works by Paul Hallahan and Lee Welch that looked to Utopia and the end of perceived history, adopting very different approaches to the theme. The exhibition was their first two-person exhibition and also marked a unique collaboration as the artists jointly made two new paintings for the first time. The exhibition mainly consisted of painted works (acrylic paint, acrylic ink and watercolour) and engaged with the architecture of the building to pose questions as to how we see the world. The artworks included a combination of figurative based and abstracted landscape paintings. This exhibition was co-funded by the Arts Council.
Paul Hallahan (IRL) is a Dublin-based artist. Working with water-based paintings, installation and video, he uses pattern, repetition and chance to look at themes that explore perception and interaction with the environment on micro and macro scale. In 2018 Hallahan won the prestigious Golden Fleece Award and also had a solo exhibition entitled ‘we’ in the Royal Hibernian Academy. Hallahan has exhibited widely in Ireland and internationally and his works feature in Waterford City Collection, OPW, TCD and private collections.
Lee Welch was born in Kentucky, USA and lives and works in Cork and Dublin. Welch recently began making figurative paintings that aim to explore and negotiate the relationship between artist, subject and viewer. Welch was recently awarded a residency at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions including Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan; Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane; CCA, Derry; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC), León, Spain. His paintings feature in public collections such as Dublin City Gallery,The Hugh Lane; Digital Hub and OPW and private collections.
The exhibition was accompanied by an extensive Learning Programme co-ordinated by Claire Behan. The Learning Programme hosted a variety of tailored events including talks and practical workshops with Paul Hallahan and Lee Welch, offering possibilities for everyone, from children to adults or beginners to those with a more in-depth knowledge of the arts to explore ideas or material processes evident within the artworks.
Gallery
