about the art
Kevin Mooney’s work traverses boundaries between history and myth. His
paintings and sculptures originate from his curiosity about the histories of migration of Irish people and also his interest in the culture making actions of migrants in general. Fragmentary, historical and anarchic, these works challenge perceived notions of native folk cultures. Mooney’s materials are both established and fresh but he always plays with the notion of time. His use of clay, sticks, oil paint, rough jute, nails and varnish echo the 17th century artists working across mainstream European, African and folk art idioms that he seeks to connect with, conceptually and idiomatically. Mooney’s works appear both in this contemporary moment, and outside of time. Some appear aged and slightly broken down, as artefacts from an unknowable era. The works play with imagery and languages from historically and temporally disparate cultures, compressing time and history into the immediate space of the canvas or the sculpture. This immediacy and urgency brings an aliveness to the fore in Mooney’s deeply felt and historically informed practice. |
about the artist
Kevin graduated from NCAD with an MFA in 2012.
EXHIBITIONS 2019 Fragments of San Borondon, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Ire - solo Everything is in Everything, Sirius arts Centre, Cobh, Ire - group The Painting Show, Sternview Gallery, Cork, Ire - group 2018 Apparition -Sternview Gallery, Cork - solo exhibition EVA International (Contemporary Art biennial) Limerick- group exhibition with work selected by curator Inti Guerrero. 2017 The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart - Mayfield Arts Centre, Cork - co-curation of group exhibition and organisation of a concurrent series of artists' talks. 2016 Twilight Head Cult - Context Art Fair, New York at Ormston House, Limerick, solo show 2015 What Is and What Might Be - Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda - selected group show 2014 Wave - Pallas Projects - solo show Dog Island Tales - Talbot Gallery - solo show 2012 Making Familiar - Temple Bar Gallery - selected group show Horizon Sprawl - Ormston House - selected group show, 2010 Video Killed the Radio Star - RHA, Ireland - selected group show Dog Island Tales - Nag Gallery - solo show Timeline - Queen Street Gallery Belfast - solo show 2009 Timeline - Mermaid Arts Centre - solo show |