Cork County Arts News July 2023

 

Body Of An exhibition by Samir Mahmood, Conor O’Brien  and Oskar Szewczuk Image: Samir Mahmood, Metamorphia VIII. Image credit: Simon Mills Opening at 6pm on Thursday 6th July 2023 LHQ Gallery at County Library  Exhibition runs until Friday 4 August, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm. To coincide with Cork Pride, Cork County Council Library and Arts Service has announced a three-person exhibition by artists Samir Mahmood, Conor O’Brien and Oskar Szewczuk, each representing the marginalised non heteronormative body in their work. The exhibition entitled “Body Of” opens Thursday 6th July at 6pm in LHQ Gallery, Cork County Library and will feature a range of styles including painting and mixed media. The exhibition title references the phrase body of work. While body of work usually refers to the output of an artist, in this exhibition the term becomes literal through the artists depiction of their own bodies and alien bodies. Samir Mahmood references his experience of migration from a conservative society to a more liberal society in Ireland in his work. “The works included in this exhibition are personal photographs collaged and transferred on panels. These photographs of bodies seem suspended in space, morphing, mutating and evolving - similar to the experience of a queer migrant in new surroundings, a new country, coming to terms with the new realities, “ says Samir. Conor O’Brien paints fungi and deep marine life, in a way that allows them to take on a rhizomatic form. “My work explores the relationship between marginalised queer bodies and the alien other of science fiction. The paintings in this show include biomorphic creations which I refer to as Visitors. I use life native to earth such as fungi or marine life, informing the viewer that the Visitors are more like us than we might initially think. The amalgam bodies that emerge in the paintings include limbs and visceral forms reminiscent of genitalia and internal organs. They don’t resolve into coherent bodies - they appear to fluctuate, never resting, ever growing.” says Conor, “I see this as parallel to the experience of trans and gender queer people who are othered, and who dismantle preconceived notions of gender.” Oskar Szewczuk’s work is centred around themes of the body and the human form. “In recent years my work has developed strong themes of queer art with this use of body image. My own experiences with body inspire me to make unconventional artists books and contemporary textile art,” says Oskar “There is a vulnerability in my work that contradicts with the masculine army themes.” The LHQ Gallery is funded by Cork County Council and The Arts Council of Ireland. The Score An exhibition by James L Hayes Image: James Hayes, production stills from The Score, 2023. Opening at 7pm on Saturday 8th July 2023, in Macroom Town Hall By Dr. Séamus Ó Tuama Exhibition runs until Saturday 29th July, Tuesdays – Sundays, 11am – 6pm. Cork County Council joins artist James L Hayes in inviting the public to experience his latest exhibition ‘The Score’, a captivating exploration of the traditional Irish sport of road bowling. This unique contemporary art showcase, presented in collaboration with members and players from Ból Chumann na hÉireann, The Irish Road Bowling Association, will open its doors to the public at 7pm on Saturday, July 8th in Macroom Town Hall. ‘The Score’ exhibition comprises of a multi-screen film and sound installation with bespoke sculptural artworks and objects.  The Score has been curated by and has a bespoke sound composition by Peter Power.Dunmanway road bowler Hannah Cronin collaborated with the artist on the film installation, while Dr. Séamus Ó Tuama advised on the two-year project. Dr. Séamus Ó Tuama is the writer of The Irish Examiner Road Bowling column, former Ból Chumann na hÉireann and referee.  Commissioned by Cork County Council in 2021, James L Hayes engaged with athletes and attended scores across the county, including The King and Queen of the Road, an annual event in Ballincurrig each September featuring competitors from Cork, Armagh, The Netherlands and Germany. The much-anticipated exhibition opening has been planned to coincide with this year’s All-Ireland competition. ‘The Score’ is made possible by funding from Cork County Council and Creative Ireland. The exhibition opens at Macroom Town Hall on Saturday July 8th at 7pm and is open from Tuesdays to Sundays 11am to 6pm, until July 29th, 2023. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.