mairead dunne
artist's statement
My work explores painting in relation to depth and spatial enclosure
and includes subject matter which hangs between illusion and reality. I
create self contained environments which reveal hidden worlds beneath
the surface. I work predominately in the medium of paint, but the work
often takes on the form of installation, combining elements of
sculpture and traditional craft techniques.
I am interested in the notion of dreams and the ambiguity of their
interpretation and it is this fragmented world that inspires the work.
The work illustrates ideas centred around gravity, where
interconnecting themes of suspension and isolation inform my work and
choice of materials. I am interested in the uncanny landscape and the
relationship of the figure to this space.
The figure of the child is a reoccurring theme where the child acts as
a symbol of innocence and the past. The work is influenced by Gothic
elements where there are strong connections with naivety and the idea
of manipulation of the innocent. The work carries a double meaning
where there are strong playful connotations but ultimately there lays a
darker undercurrent.