RDH: DECEMBER 2022

02/12/22

Wardell Milan - Louisiana Channel

Sketchbook work - it’s been way too long!

03/12/22

Quick studio time…

… as suspected, it didn’t take much to get last two paintings of the year over the line. Still aiming to keep the (well, less is more is a little inaccurate) “Stop before I think I should” mentality.

Definitely less misses with this strategy.

08/12/22

‘New Exits: 10 Years of Painting’ opening at the MAC. Excellent show. Daniel Coleman’s painting ‘The House Down the Lane’ is absolutely stunning. It moved me to tears. A real stand out from a strong group show.

11/12/22

Freezing in the studio.

Drew up two small works (having a crack at the ‘Jaws’ image again - with a slightly altered composition) and have set up to take a look at a couple of pieces that have fallen through the cracks recently.

‘Street Walker’ and ‘Laughing Man’ (working titles).

17/12/22

Wood is for the living, stone for the dead.

Said farewell to GT’s reading round. It’s been such a boost having this weekly outlet of chatting, sharing ideas and making connections. Had a great run!

Stream of admin this evening.

18/12/22

“Tomorrow is Saturday” - Interesting documentary on Sean Hillen.

28/12/22

Studio time. “The Week in Art: 2022 in review” podcast.

Blocking in on the small piece. ‘Man looking in his pocket while descending the stairs’ or ‘Looking for keys’ OR ‘Check your pocket’.

29/12/22

Newcastle.

30/12/22

Penultimate day of the year. admin and prep before a few hours in the studio!

For the time of the year that it is, I find myself in a bit of a reflective and thankful mood. 2022 has been good to me.

• Collaborative residency and exhibition with Catalyst.

• Work shown at the Boyle Arts Festival, Roscommon.

• Part of the Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

• Gave a talk with Basic Space Dublin in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

• And most importantly, became a father!

There have been losses also. People who have impacted our lives that have moved on, but their imprint will remain.

So much to be thankful for, a loving family, the support of friends and loved ones during the highs and lows. Also, to those who took a chance on my work, who invited me to be a part of their projects:

THANK YOU!

Review 2020

Now it is probably an understatement to say that 2020 has been a year that we all can’t wait to see the back of. The world as we know it ground to a halt as the effects of the pandemic reached every household. So, this loosely titled ‘review’ will try to skip over the dread inducing and instead focus on what was positive.

From a personal aspect, during the initial lockdown, an accident in April meant that I had to take a step back and prioritise my health. Thankfully I am on the mend but in the two months where I did little to no artwork at all I realised how much I missed being in the studio and how it didn’t feel right not to be making. Like there was something missing - not that you are what you make but more like how art is the best way to express yourself and vent.

2020 had a running start as there were plans ongoing for a solo show. I had just been given a solo exhibition at the end of 2019 in Newtownards so this was a quick turn-around. Thankfully Hugh and Jane from Atypical came for a visit in mid-February to formulate ideas. ‘Confessional’ opened in Belfast at the beginning of March and no sooner had the doors opened… well, you know.

Hugh O’Donnell and Shiro Masuyama putting the finishing touches in the University of Atypical Gallery

Thankfully I was to have a second socially distanced opening in September. Feedback from both was really positive. In between the openings the University of Atypical held a zoom talk which I really enjoyed and I’m grateful to the staff of University of Atypical for their hard work and dedication. ‘Confessional’ is a show I’m very proud of.

Multiple works on the go and the start of lockdown number one.

At the beginning of lockdown my hours were shortened in my job to make it fairer for all staff. I would go to work at 5am and be back home for 9.30am. This is when a little slither of silver lining crept in. I suddenly had loads and loads of studio time - sometimes working from 10am to 7pm five days a week. It was a purple patch that seemed to have come from nowhere, but in hindsight getting stuck into the studio was probably a way to shut out the world, put the blinkers on and not look at the growing anxiety all around.

In mid-April I was invited by VAI to give a presentation over zoom with a few other artists from Northern Ireland. After weeks of not getting out and about and feeling slightly isolated it was so good to speak with friends I hadn’t seen in a while and to feel part of something other than the four walls you’re in. I always feel it’s beneficial to take part in talks as they help with stepping back and take stock on what is actually happening in the studio.

Then, at the end of April, I took a fall. Fractured my skull, fractured my wrist and had bleeding on the brain. With a stint in the Royal this all meant that the brakes were firmly stepped on. I was not allowed to go into the studio for a couple of months and had to retreat from strenuous activity. This is where taking a step back and being granted time allowed me to join the Golden Thread Gallery’s reading group held by Brian McAvera. Each week participants are sent articles / essays / texts and then they are discussed and dissected over zoom - with a few funny segues thrown in for good measure. So even though I couldn’t physically do anything at the time, being a part of the reading group kept my head active, joining in interesting discussions with wonderful people that did my state of mind the power of good.

In May, being a member of Catalyst also meant that the annual members’ show was taking place and this year around it was going to be virtually. It was interesting how the crew at Catalyst made the site based on aspects of the physical gallery space - the door buzzer pop-up to gain entry and the white bricked background between the different works. A more personalised approach to just attaching the works to a website which worked really well.

Submission to RUA - midway through

In July, I was able to get back in the studio and the need to make seemed more potent than before. Almost a sort of burying the head in the studio shaped sand in a way but with some creative outcomes. I did my annual submission to the Royal Ulster Academy, not thinking much of it and just getting on with other work. Tenth time’s a charm I guess as I was selected for this year’s 139th exhibition for a small painting of a family member - who is of course taking all the credit. Lockdowns have come and gone and come back again but in between I did manage to to get up to Belfast to see the show and finally tick the RUA off my bucket list.

In Autumn I was approached by Reimagine, Remake, Replay if I would be interested in taking part in an online mental health festival focussing on young adults. I was delighted to have been asked and it was a well curated and thought-out programme over three days that included world mental health day (10th October). Just before the festive season it was announced that my submission to the Moth Art Prize was commended and it’s a nice nod to my practice from the folks at the Moth.

As the colder weather sets in, the hours in the studio lessen and the sketchbook work increases. I cannot complain though. 23 finished paintings and 100+ drawings means its been an extremely productive year despite the obvious setbacks. So in-between the dread, uncertainty and the health scares, 2020 has given a few bright moments creatively that I will treasure.

Here’s to 2021.