New Collaborative Work with Rachel Fallon at To Never Look Away @ TØN Gallery Dublin
To Never Look Away
Artists: Rachel Fallon and Claire Halpin. Glass technician: Madeleine Hellier
Hand stitched wool felt box, kiln formed black glass, oil on gesso tondo panel, 14cm D X 6cm, 2024
New collaborative artwork created with artist Rachel Fallon as part of the exhibition To Never Look Away which I curated at TØN Dublin. Following my recent discovery of the Claude Glass as an object fitting image and metaphor for this exhibition which I was curating and producing – I wanted to create a contemporary version or interpretation. And so invited Rachel Fallon to collaborate and create a box/ container and asked Madeleine Hellier, glass artist for technical guidance on kiln forming the black glass itself. The resulting artwork is, to my mind an object of beauty with multilayered meanings that evolved through the collaboration to become a key piece in the exhibition evoking many responses.
Thanks Rachel and Madeleine for taking the gauntlet!
A Claude glass (or black mirror) is a small mirror, slightly convex, with its surface tinted a dark colour. Bound up like a pocket-book or in a carrying case, Claude glasses were used by artists, travellers and connoisseurs of landscape and landscape painting.
The black mirror has the effect of reducing and simplifying the colour and tonal range of scenes and scenery to give them a painterly quality. The user would turn their back on the scene to observe the framed view through the tinted mirror—in a sort of pre-photographic lens—which added the picturesque aesthetic of a subtle gradation of tones. The Claude glass is named after Claude Lorrain, the 17th-century landscape painter, whose name became synonymous with the picturesque aesthetic.
Here contained in a handstitched felted wool box – the choice of material and construction references the “Act for Burying in Woollen” of 1666 and again more radically in 1678 which laid down that all corpses excepting plague victims and the destitute should be buried in wool and no other material whatsoever. Failure to comply resulted in a £5 forfeit. Intended to support the wool trade, it was detrimental to the textile industry in Ireland and Scotland where it had been customary for the deceased to have shrouds of linen. Eventually this wool burying act was extended to Ireland in 1733 before falling out of favour around 1770. However burials in wool are being revived, this time in the form of woollen coffins due to the materials’ biodegradable and sustainable qualities.
Inserted in the box lid a miniature tondo painting of migrants on a raft, the background composition based on the Gericault painting The Raft of The Medusa (1819), with a contemporary image of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. This is only somewhat reflected in the Claude glass, depending on how it is angled and how much the viewer selects to view.
The portable artwork harkens back to manuports and the small folded icons carried by pilgrims, crusaders and conquistadores as well as personal items, memento mori carried in pockets by migrants and refugees lost at sea, buried at sea, unrecorded.
This artwork reflects many of the themes in the exhibition, how we look observe, record and bear witness to the horrors of war and conflict around us – the artists through their tools, materials and visual language making more bearable these horrors – anaesthetic aesthetics.
To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery Dublin/ 7 – 31 March 2024
The artists: Rachel Fallon, Joy Gerrard, Claire Halpin, Myra Jago, Paul Mac Cormaic and Amna Walayat,
The poets: Fióna Bolger and Nasouh Hossari.
Curated by Claire Halpin
To Never Look away at TØN Gallery Dublin – Talks & Events Programme
As curator of the exhibition To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery Dublin, participation and engagement inclusion and dialogue are hugely important through my programming of a wide range of different events, talks, tours and conversations during the exhibition for all ages and backgrounds – from the students of Central Model Primary School to Grandparents Against Racism, and everyone else in between! Thanks to Temple Bar Gallery ans Studios for including the exhibition in their Art Walk tour too! Here is some images from the programme of events. Firstly above – 3rd Class, Central Model SNS for a VTS/ Visual Thinking Strategies discussion with myself and Rachel Fallon.
TALKS@TØN DUBLIN: Poetry Reading at To Never Look Away
Sunday 24th March/ 1.00 – 2.30pm
Poets Nasouh Hossari and Fíona Bolger joined with friends performing poetry in Arabic and English and music by Gaza musician Abdulaziz. Followed by an open mic for Gaza. Works by Palestinian poets encouraged and warmly welcomed.
TALKS@TØN DUBLIN: Artists In Conversation at To Never Look Away
Wednesday 27th March/ 6.00 – 7.30pm
Sara O’Rourke, (Dept. of Anthropology, Maynooth University), Claire Halpin (Curator/ Artist/ Arts Educator), Rachel Fallon (Artist), Brenda Aherne (Artist/ Mini Placard Movement) & Exhibiting Artists
Another great evening of though provoking conversation responding to the prescient themes, subjects, concepts, artworks and art practices in the exhibition To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery.
All were welcome, no bookings necessary. Donations to Médecins Sans Frontières Gaza Appeal.
A huge thank you each of the exhibiting artists – Rachel Fallon, Joy Gerrard, Claire Halpin, Myra Jago, Paul Mac Cormaic and Amna Walayat, and the poets Fióna Bolger and Nasouh Hossari – who participated and facilitated discussions as part of the exhibition programme. And a huge thank you to all of you who came along to some or all of the events. It really has been an amazing experience – thought provoking, inspiring, discursive, important, emotive and moving in equal measures.
Thanks to Mark and Helen at TØN Gallery for the invitation and opportunity to curate and produce this important and timely exhibition and programme of events – opening up new spaces for collaboration and discussion.
To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery/ 7 – 31 March 2024
To Never Look Away – TØN Gallery Dublin/ 7-31 March 2024 – Exhibition
To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery Dublin
The artists: Rachel Fallon, Joy Gerrard, Claire Halpin, Myra Jago, Paul Mac Cormaic and Amna Walayat
The poets: Fióna Bolger and Nasouh Hossari. Curated by Claire Halpin
To view full list of artworks in the exhibition click here.
The exhibition was accompanied by a catologue which can be viewed here.
To Never Look Away – TØN Gallery Dublin/ 7-31 March 2024 – Exhibition Opening
To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin
The artists: Rachel Fallon, Joy Gerrard, Claire Halpin, Myra Jago, Paul Mac Cormaic and Amna Walayat
The poets: Fióna Bolger and Nasouh Hossari
Curated by Claire Halpin
Opening conversation with Clíodhna Shaffrey, Director Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
We had an absolutely wonderful launch of the exhibition at TØN Gallery in March, with opening conversation by Clíodhna Shaffrey responding to the exhibitions themes, subjects, forms and materials. Inviting each of the participating artists to speak briefly about their work in the exhibition. It was very moving experience for many in the packed gallery. Many of the themes evoked poignant responses and very timely as we find ourselves in a time of war raging in Palestine and racist riots on our streets….as artists questioning our role as artists to bear witness….to never look away.
It was important for me as the curator to programme a series of different events, tours and conversations to reach a wider audience. The opening night was testimony to the artists and poets and the power and resonance of the work in the exhibition, the connections between the works and the opening up of cross disciplinary dialogue.
Huge thank you to Clíodhna Shaffrey for the opening conversation, to our guest of honour, Palestinian artist Emily Jacir and to all who joined the artists and poets to launch the exhibition To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery on 7th March 2024.
To Never Look Away at TØN Gallery, 25a Temple Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin until 31 March 2024.
Winter Newsletter 2023 – Happy Christmas and New Year!
Welcome to my Winter Newsletter 2023 and what a year it has been! A huge thanks and appreciation to all the galleries, museums, artists, curators, writers, patrons, podcasters, viewers and buyers who have supported my work throughout the year and made 2023 a great year. Here’s a look back to some of the highlights from this year. Looking forward to very exciting exhibition plans being hatched with TØN Dublin in early 2024…watch this space!
Happy Christmas and New Year to one and all!
Claire
2023 brought many international exhibition opportunities, most significantly my first international solo exhibition – Primo Piatto at Galleria Cabaret Voltaire in Rome in March. Such an honour, experience and opportunity to exhibit in the Monti in the great city of Rome! The exhibition was very well received and reviewed and included paintings from the Augmented Auguries series. newly created Migrant Souvenir plates and a site specific historic sculpture – The Lost Heart of Daniel O’Connell.This intriguing work, through a sequence of events was bequested to the Church of St. Agata dei Goti, Rome for permanent exhibition in the church…My Body to Ireland, My Heart to Rome…. Donal Fallon, historian chats with me about it in his great podcast Three Castles Burning.
During the summer my work was exhibited in Summer Salon at Red Sheep Gallery, Klockestrand, Sweden, In the Cross Fire at SEAS Brighton as part of International Refugee week. Other group exhibitions included Mermaid 21 at Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Chaos/ Order at dlr Municipal Gallery, Dún Laoghaire, Here and Now at TØN Dublin. Another brilliant collaboration with Madeleine Hellier at Sculpture in Context 2023 – this year Glassophere a three part large scale installation across the Botanic Gardens. I am delighted also to have new work selected for the Winter Exhibition at Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin currently on exhibition until 13th January 2024.
Another huge honour in 2023 was the inclusion of my work in this seminal publication –
LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT IN CONTEMPORARY IRISH ART
by YVONNE SCOTT, published by CHURCHILL HOUSE PRESS
This book identifies a representative selection of compelling and intriguing artworks by a range of around one hundred of the most challenging and vibrant artists from, or working in, Ireland or whose work addresses Irish landscapes and environments. Examining them both individually and collectively, this book reveals primary motivations behind strategies of representation.
TWENTY ONE – Mermaid Open Exhibition, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray until 24 September
Delighted my work was selected for TWENTY ONE – Mermaid Open Exhibition at Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, 15th July – 24th September.
Curated by Anne Mulleé
Celebrating 21 years of Mermaid’s Visual Art Programme, this group exhibition includes painting, sculpture, multimedia, printmaking and photography from over 80 artists. The work was selected through an Open Call earlier in 2023.
With works from:
Samuel Arnold Keane, Svenja Michelle Behle, Helen G Blake, Sahoko Blake, Joanne Boyle, Lily Boyle, Claire Buckley, Cathy Burke, Mary Butler, Fiona Byrne (1), Fiona Byrne (2), Olga Byrne, Susan Campbell, Tricia Carr, Judy Carroll Deeley, Emanuela Carvisiglia, An Gee Chan, Fiona Coffey, Neil Condron, Nadia Corridan, Caroline Creagh, Julie Cusack, Margaret Daly, Zoe Dillon, Julienne Dockery, Bernadette Doolan, Cathy Dorman, Alison Douglas, Rion Duffy Murphy, Olga Duka, Michael Durand, Aoife Dwyer, Bebhinn Eilish, Olga Evenden, Mary Fahy, Jack Fitzgerald, Sheila Flaherty, Pauline Flynn, Ursula Foley, John Foley, Noelle Gallagher, Margot Galvin, David Goldberg, Nasrin Golden, Aideen Griffin, Claire Halpin, Kevin Hamilton, Jacki Hanlon, James Hayes, 1iing Heaney, Maree Hensey, Fabienne Herbert, Aoife Herrity, Sylvia Hill, Elizabeth Hogan, Myra Jago, Paula Kearney, Danny Kelly, Laura Kelly, Ann Kennedy, Lynn Kennedy, James Kenny, Joanna Kidney, Anastasiia Kovtun, Oonagh Latchford, Barbara Lee, Megan Luddy O’Leary, Susan Madert, Linda Marshall, Irene McCabe, Banbha McCann, Shane McCormack, Emily McGardle, Lieselle McMahon, Denise McShannon, Ruth Medjber, Niall Meehan, Ciaran Meister, James Mellor, Susan Montgomery, Cecilia Moore, Marzieh Nazemzadeh, Sinead Ní Mhaonaigh, Padhraig Nolan, Brigid O’Brien, Cólin O’Connell + Michelle Doyle, Carmel O’Connor, Sorca O’Farrell, Eoin O’Malley, Daithi O’Manachain, Ciaran Patterson, Elizabeth Petcu, Yanny Petters, Adrienne Pope Fagan, Nicholas Robinson, Daniel Rodriguez Castro, Don Rorke, Colleen Roshenstock, Anna Maria Savage, Daniel Sexton, Clara Sheridan Bryson, Elinor Sherwood, Stephanie Sloan, Vincent Smith, Vauney Strahan, Jordan Taylor, Brian Teeling, Patrick Theobald, Rebekka Tomal, Laura Trueman, Miriam van Gelderen, Geraldine Verastegui Flores, Doru Viorel Ivan, Catherine Mary Ward, Ann Marie Webb, Dianne Whyte
TWENTY ONE continues at Mermaid Arts Centre until 24th September
Link here
Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin solo exhibition in Gallery Cabaret Voltaire Roma – 18th March – 4th April 2023
Primo Piatto includes a new series of souvenir plate paintings especially created for this exhibition. From Italy and Ireland painted with an alternative painted image to their original intent as a clichéd tourist souvenir from Ireland and Italy.
Primo Piatto – the exhibition title refers to an introduction to my work, the process of a “first plate” or first edition in printing and also the painted souvenir plates.
Clockwise from top left –
Migrant Souvenir Plate Killarney Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 15cm D, €150
Depicting the clichéd souvenir image of the Irish Jaunting Car – changed to Irish Taunting car – contrasted with the ant-migrant protests and arson at a direct provision centre in Killarney, Kerry.
Migrant Souvenir Plate Ireland Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 15cm D, €150
The romantic image of the peasant Irish woman spinning a warm Céad Míle Fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) to the Irish cottage homestead, Contrasted with the recent anti-immigrant protests outside hotels housing migrants in Ballymun with the protest rallying cry of “Ireland is Full.”
Migrant Souvenir Plate Dublin Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 20cm X 20cm, €175
The shamrock shaped plate – symbol of Ireland, symbol of luck, symbol of unity. Depciting iconic, historic and tourist landmarks in Dublin. These have been altered to include homeless tented village, anti-immigrant protests and housing crisis protests on the Halpenny Bridge,
Migrant Souvenir Plate Italy Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 25cm D, €175
Contrasting the romantic arcadian scene of Italian landscape with the refugee boats arriving and sinking on the Italian shores and the refugee camps.
Migrant Souvenir Plate Dublin-Roma Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 25cm D, €175
The wealth, affluence and glorification of the Catholic Church contrasted here with a protest in Dublin contradicting the Papal visit and Papal mass – Stand for Truth – seeking truth, justice and acknowledgement of Clerical Abuse in the church, schools and Magdalen laundries in Ireland.
Migrant Souvenir Plate Venice Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 20cm D, €175
Contrasting the V with the refugee boats arriving and sinking on the Italian shores and the refugee camp.
Click on Slideshow below to view individual plates.
Migrant Souvenir Plate Dublin, Acrylic on porcelain plate, 20cm-x-20cm, 2023 
Migrant Souvenir Plate Italy, Acrylic on porcelain plate, 25cm D, 2023 
Migrant Souvenir Plate Ireland, Acrylic on porcelain plate, 15cm D, 2023 
Migrant Souvenir Plate Dublin-Roma, Acrylic on porcelain-plate, 25cm D, 2023 
Migrant Souvenir Plate Killarney, Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 15cm D, 2023 
Migrant Souvenir Plate Venice, Acrylic on Porcelain Plate, 20cm D, 2023
Primo Piatto
Claire Halpin solo exhibition
18th March – 4th April 2023
An Irish Artist in Rome
at Galleria Cabaret Voltaire Roma
Via Panisperna, 87, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin – Gallery Cabaret Voltaire Roma – until 4th April 2023
EXHIBITION INSTALL IMAGES: THE PAINTINGS
Paintings (right to left)
Afghan Flight
Drone Strike Kabul
Verified Falsehood
Theatre Shelter Mariupol
Libricide
Each painting:
Oil on Gesso, 30cm X 40cm, 2022
€500
Afghan Flight, Oil on Gesso, 30cm-x-40cm, 2022 
Drone Strike Kabul, Oil on Gesso, 30cm X 40cm, 2022 
Verified Falsehood, Oil on Gesso, 30cm x 40cm, 2022 
Theatre Shelter Mariupol, Oil on Gesso, 30cm x 40cm, 2022 
Libricide, Oil on Gesso board, 30cm-x-40cm, 2022 
HR3C Cabal Cargo, Oil on gesso, 30cm x 40cm, 2022
PRIMO PIATTO
Claire Halpin solo exhibition
An Irish Artist in Rome
Gallery Cabaret Voltaire,
Via Panisperna, 87, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
http://www.galleriacabaretvoltaire.it
18th March – 4th April 2023
Vernissage! Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin – solo exhibition opens at Gallery Cabaret Voltaire Roma – 18 March 2023
Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin – solo exhibition opens at Gallery Cabaret Voltaire Roma!
Great opening night! Thanks very much all for coming from near and far to make this a very special exhibition opening!
Huge thanks to Manola @cabaretvoltaireroma for supporting and installing the exhibition.
More images of the exhibition to follow!
Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin – solo exhibition at Gallery Cabaret Voltaire Roma continues until 4th April 2023.
Artist Interview: Tuesday 4th April at 6pm. All welcome.
Galleria Cabaret Voltaire
Via Panisperna, 87, Monti, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
http://www.galleriacabaretvoltaire.it
Primo Piatto – Claire Halpin – Solo Exhibition – Gallery Cabaret Voltaire, Rome – 18th March – 4th April 2023
Winter Group Show at Olivier Cornet Gallery – Opening Thursday 15th December @ 6pm
2012-2022, a decade of exhibitions at the Olivier Cornet Gallery
A Winter group show curated by Olivier Cornet and his interns Lisa Brero and Mary Rose Porter
Featuring work by Annika Berglund, Aisling Conroy, Hugh Cummins, Mary A. Fitzgerald, Jordi Forniés, Conrad Frankel, David Fox, Claire Halpin, Nickie Hayden, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Miriam McConnon, Seán Mulcahy, Sheila Naughton, Yanny Petters, Kelly Ratchford, Freda Rupp, Vicky Smith and Susanne Wawra
Exhibition Launch: Thursday 15 December, 6pm with Mary Pavlides, Chairwoman of the Contemporary Irish Art Society (CIAS).
The Olivier Cornet Gallery is delighted to present this anniversary exhibition with works that mark important milestones in the life of the gallery and/or the career of the artists. Some stand out group exhibitions, referenced in the show, would include ‘A Terrible Beauty’ (2014), ‘Hopscotch’ (2015), ‘2°C’ (2017), presented at the VUE Art Fairs (RHA Dublin) – and our annual Bloomsday exhibitions. Sometimes described as ‘intriguing’ or ‘innovative’, these exhibitions have often challenged our perception of contemporary art in Ireland.
Featuring works from solo exhibitions by established artists such as Claire Halpin, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Miriam McConnon and Yanny Petters, ‘2012-2022…’ will also reflect on the ways in which art can help us ask relevant questions, meditate on the state of affairs in the current epoch, empathize with -and relate to- each other and negotiate our way forward in these challenging times.
The exhibition continues until 15 February 2023.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm (till 8pm on Thursdays)Saturday & Sunday: 12 noon-5pm
See more work from the show here:
https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/2012-2022-anniversary-winter-group-show-olivier-cornet-gallery
Painting featured: Fall of Mariupol, Diptych, Oil on Canvas, 60cm X 150cm, 2022.
Panoramic Pandemic Diptych Acquired for Private Collection
Delighted and proud to announce the diptych Panoramic Pandemic has been acquired for a Private Collection which will be traveling to France. Very much looking forward to seeing it installed in its new maison! Thanks to the collectors for supporting my work, the affirmation of my work and for purchasing this work. This acquisition highlights the importance of private buyers, collectors and patrons in both supporting the arts, galleries and buying Irish art.
Panoramic Pandemic was a key painting in my recent solo exhibition Augmented Auguries at Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin.
More paintings from the exhibition are still available to view and purchase at the storeroom at Olivier Cornet Gallery.
View here: https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/claire-halpin-augmented-auguries-solo-show-2022
Olivier Cornet Gallery, 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1
Open Tues- Friday/ 11-6pm and Sat-Sun / 12-5pm and by appointment.
Post Exhibition Update: OPW Acquire Storm Series for the State Art Collection from Olivier Cornet Gallery
I am delighted and very honored to announce that the Storm Series of paintings have been acquired by the OPW for the OPW State Art Collection. Storm I-III, oil on gesso, 30cm X 40cm, 2022 featured in my recent exhibition Augmented Auguries at Olivier Cornet Gallery. I am very appreciative of the OPW support and recognition of the importance and relevance of these works to merit their inclusion in our national collection.
https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/claire-halpin-augmented-auguries-solo-show-2022
Claire Halpin solo exhibition Augmented Auguries at Olivier Cornet Gallery/ Sept – Oct 2022
My solo exhibition Augmented Auguries was shown at Olivier Cornet Gallery in September/ October 2022. The exhibition received huge number of visitors and viewers and great response and review of the artworks and the exhibition overall.
Here is short video walk through of the exhibition and documentation images of the exhibition installed.
Thanks again to all who visited, viewed, responded and purchased the works. Thanks again to Joy Gerrard for opening the show, Brenda Moore McCann for the in conversation and of course to Olivier Cornet and his team at the gallery for their support and enthusiasm throughout the exhibition.
You can view further artworks from the exhibition here:
https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/claire-halpin-augmented-auguries-solo-show-2022
and in the 3D virtual gallery here:
https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/10701441/augmented-auguries-by-claire-halpin
Works from the exhibition are still available to view and purchase at the gallery storeroom.
Olivier Cornet Gallery
3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm (till 8pm on Thursdays)
Saturday & Sunday: 12 noon-5pm
Augmented Auguries by Claire Halpin opens at Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin, 8th Sept 2022
Fantastic opening night of Augmented Auguries at Olivier Cornet Gallery! Great crowd, great conversations, great response to the work and insightful and beautifully eloquent opening speech by Joy Gerrard. Augmented Auguries is accompanied by a text of conversations with Brenda Moore McCann.
The exhibition continues until 9th October 2022.
Olivier Cornet Gallery, 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, D01 NV63, Ireland
info@oliviercornetgallery.com 087 288 7261 https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm (till 8pm on Thursdays)
Saturday & Sunday: 12 noon-5pm
Olivier Cornet Gallery presents – Augmented Auguries – solo exhibition by Claire Halpin – Opening 8th September @6.30pm
The Olivier Cornet Gallery is excited to present Augmented Auguries – Claire Halpin first exhibition at the gallery since the monumental Jigmap series of works was acquired and exhibited at IMMA in its museum wide exhibition The Narrow Gate of The Here and Now – Chapter Four: Protest and Conflict. This has significantly positioned Claire’s paintings in an international context of contemporary and historically acclaimed political artists looking at protest, conflict, contested histories and responding to the global issues of our times. It has also brought a wider audience nationally and internationally to her work and practice.
This timely exhibition – Augmented Auguries – brings together an ambitious body of Claire’s work developed over the last two years building on themes and concepts previously explored in her paintings. Responding to sites of conflict and contested histories internationally from the Pandemic, storming of the Capitol, to the war in Ukraine, now Claire turns her lens to national conflict and protest in Northern Ireland. The spectacle and theatrics of conflict and protest are documented and recorded through paint. The works attempt to navigate the complexity of the contemporary theatre of war and cultural wars as battlefields move to the battlespace of the online and livefeed of news, images and social media. All played out in the steady stream of content, real, fake and created by whom for whom and for what intent and future consequences in writing history.
The exhibition title – Augmented Auguries – links the livefeed of news and social media via satellite and drones to the ancient Roman practice of augury – the interpreting of omens from the observed behaviour of birds, and the sometimes fabricated auspices that could be used to pervert a political course of action.
“With the recent paintings I have attempted to respond in a more immediate way through a loosening of the handling of the paint, allowing a movement and blurring on the gessoed surface – a slight shift from the heavily worked complex compositions of the Jigmap Series. Attempting to create a painting of a particular event, incident, atrocity – contesting history and recording future history. All to the backdrop of the canon of art history, the complex compositions and multiple narratives of Early Renaissance and Byzantine painting.“
The exhibition is accompanied by a text of conversations between art historian Dr Brenda Moore-McCann and Claire Halpin in her studio.
The exhibition continues until 9th October 2022
3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, D01 NV63, Ireland
info@oliviercornetgallery.com 087 288 7261
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm (till 8pm on Thursdays)
Saturday & Sunday: 12 noon-5pm
Outrageous, Obscene and Offensive opens at Olivier Cornet Gallery
The Olivier Cornet Gallery is delighted to present this Bloomsday 2022 group art exhibition on the theme of censorship. We are also delighted to announce that this show is part of the official Bloomsday Festival organised by the James Joyce Centre, Dublin. The exhibition will include work by Yanny Petters, Claire Halpin, Miriam McConnon, Kelly Ratchford and Susanne Wawra as well as Mary A. Fitzgerald, Aisling Conroy, David Fox, Nickie Hayden, Vicky Smith and Sheila Naughton. The artists have been invited to explore censorship in a wider context too, not just in literature but in other disciplines and fields, such as visual art and films.
Great exhibition opening of Obscene, Outrageous and Offensive at Olivier Cornet Gallery on 13th June. Really interesting work by all the artists on the theme of censorship and really well curated by Olivier bringing together the disparate works. Enlightening opening speech by Dr. Brenda Moore McCann, art historian and critic exploring the theme of censorship in its many forms and manifestations across society weaving together the personal, public and political and the historical.
Outrageous, Obscene and Offensive
at Olivier Cornet Gallery, 3 Great Denmark Street (beside Belvedere College) until 31 July 2022
Outrageous, Obscene and Offensive at Olivier Cornet Gallery – Opening 2pm Sunday 12th June
The Olivier Cornet Gallery would like to invite you to the opening of
‘Outrageous, Obscene and Offensive’
A group show on the theme of censorship, part of the Bloomsday Festival organised by the James Joyce Centre, Dublin,
featuring work by
Aisling Conroy, Mary A. Fitzgerald, David Fox, Claire Halpin, Nickie Hayden, Miriam McConnon, Sheila Naughton, Yanny Petters, Kelly Ratchford, Vicky Smith and Susanne Wawra
Sunday 12 June 2022 from 2pm to 5pm.
Dr Brenda Moore-McCann, art historian, critic and writer, will open the show at 3pm.
Olivier Cornet Gallery
3 Great Denmark Street
Dublin 1
On This Day in 2018 – 38th EVA International: Ireland’s Biennial Opened in Limerick
On This Day in 2018 – 38th EVA International: Ireland’s Biennial Opened in Limerick. Selected by Inti Guerrero – three of my large diptychs from the JigMap Series were exhibited at Limerick City Gallery. What an honour to be selected an exhibited alongside an amazing line-up of Irish and Internationally renowned artists. And for this significant body of work to be exhibited at the beautiful space at Limerick City Gallery.
The three works selected and exhibited on specially bespoke soft purple walls were:
- Syrial Series, Diptych, Oil on Canvas, 60cm X 150cm, 2018
- JigMap Iraq, Diptych, Oil on Canvas, 60cm X 150cm, 2016
- Afghan Tour, Diptych, Oil on Canvas, 60cm X 150cm, 2017
A very proud highlight of my career to date.
Resurfacing – Summer Group Exhibition at Olivier Cornet Gallery, 6th – 28th August 2020
Temporary Morgue – Palacio de Hielo, Madrid, 2020, Egg Tempera on Gesso, 20cm x 25cm, 650 euro.
New Work selected for the inaugural Highlanes Open Submission 2020 at Highlanes Gallery
I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have my work selected for the inaugural Highlanes Open Submission 2020 at the fantastic Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda and online from 9th June 2020. This Open Submission has been developed responding to the social constraints of the current global situation, and acknowledging that many visual artists continue to create and work, though now, many not in their studios, but in smaller spaces, and domestic environments. Its objective is to support and highlight new work by artists living in Ireland, to encourage interest and engagement with contemporary art, and to raise the profile of ambitious visual art in society.
My work was selected following a shortlisting by the panel of judges for Highlanes Gallery Open Submission 2020 – artist, Joy Gerrard, Seán Kissane, Curator of Exhibitions at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and Jerome O’Drisceoil, Gallerist, Green on Red Gallery.
Temporary Morgue – Palacio de Hielo Ice Rink, Madrid 2020
Egg Tempera on Gesso, 20cm X 25cm, May 2020
Artwork Statement:
As the corona virus pandemic spread and the world went into lockdown, as the numbers of deaths and cases soared, peaked and epicentered – a live stream of images of the “war against the virus” – battlements built in the form of huge hospitals built at high speed in China. But that was all over there. Not here yet. Then across Europe, the abandonment of nursing homes, the re-purposing of buildings for the infected, and the building of temporary mortuaries. And then it was here in Ireland – a temporary morgue to be built at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
I have begun a series documenting some of these sites. Tourist sites, cultural and historical sites, leisure sites – re-purposed as temporary morgues, now commemorative sites or monuments to this pandemic. This is the Palacio de Hielo Ice Rink in Madrid, painted using egg tempera on gesso and in the classical form and style of the frescoes of the palaces of Madrid.
Claire Halpin, June 2020
Highlanes Gallery
Laurence Street, Drogheda, Ireland
http://www.highlanes.ie/
Curator’s Tour – Last Chance to see Utopia/ Dystopia at Municipal Gallery, dlr LexIcon
Meet the Curator
Informal exhibition tour and talk
Saturday 25 January, 12-1 pm
Municipal Gallery/ dlr LexIcon, Dún Laoghaire
Curator and director of Highlanes Gallery, Aoife Ruane, curated the Utopia/Dystopia exhibition. In an informal setting Aoife will introduce the exhibition and offer insights into the curatorial work involved.
“A utopia is a perfect world. In utopias, there are not problems like war, disease, poverty, oppression, discrimination, inequality etc, while a dystopia, on the other hand, is a world in which nothing is perfect. The problems that plague our world are often even more extreme in dystopias. At this moment in the 21st century and in a complex world of extremes and oppositions what does this mean for artists now…” Aoife Ruane, Highlanes Gallery
Two of my paintings – Seed Vault and Farewell Palmyra are featured in the exhibition which closes on Sunday 26th January.
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- Seed Vault_OIl on Gesso_37cm X 57cm_2019
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- Farwell Palmyra_Oil on Gesso_37cm X 57cm_2019
RAW WAR solo exhibition opens at Olivier Cornet Gallery
Great crowd at the opening of my new solo exhibition RAW WAR at Olivier Cornet Gallery. Great opening speech by Aoife Ruane, Director of Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. A very engaged and complimentary crowd in attendance! And great feedback on the exhibition and the new work. Looking forward to seeing lots of visitors to the exhibition over the coming weeks.
On Culture Night next Friday 20th September there will be an evening of music with Pearse McGloughlin and his band Nocturnes performing live at the gallery at 8pm for Culture Night 2019.
The exhibition runs until Sunday 6th October 2019.
Olivier Cornet Gallery http://www.oliviercornetgallery.com
3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
087 288 7261
Tues to Friday: 11am – 6pm (8pm on Thurs)
Sat & Sun: 12 noon – 5pm
Last Chance Last Chance! Final Day of the 189th RHA Annual Exhibition
Last chance to see my two paintings on show at the 189th RHA Annual Exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy which closes tomorrow Saturday 10th August. Delighted that the two paintings have been sold to one lucky buyer! So this is the last day these two paintings on public show in a gallery.
Gallery Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Royal Hibernian Academy
15 Ely Place, Dublin 2
Tel: 353 1 661 2558
Fax: 353 1 661 0762
Claire Halpin Artist 