Exhibition: The life and legacy of Stephen McKenna at VISUAL Carlow

I went to see the exhibition: The life and legacy of Stephen McKenna at VISUAL Carlow.

What`s on VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art Carlow?

VISUAL presents an important exhibition of works celebrating the life and legacy of artist Stephen McKenna (1939-2017).

Therefore, In 2016 VISUAL invited the artist to create a retrospective for the galleries at VISUAL. And offering an incredible view of this artist’s career. Moreover, McKenna decided about selected works and exhibition hangs, shortly before his passing in 2017. Alongside this retrospective, the artist’s legacy will be acknowledged through a group show of works by six artists. They found influence in McKenna’s techniques, processes, and friendship. Isabel Nolan, Stephen Loughman, Mairead O’hEocha, Eithne Jordan, Adam Bohanna, and William McKeown (1968–2011).

VISUAL is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary art spaces. And situated in the heart of Carlow Town, with four world-class gallery spaces and a 320-seat performance space.

Stephen McKenna (1939-2017)

Stephen McKenna was born in London and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art. During his career, he has traveled widely and lived in Germany, Belgium, and Italy as well as in Donegal. He exhibits regularly in Dublin at the Kerlin Gallery and The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) and has had solo shows in London, Milan, New York, Dusseldorf, and Eindhoven. In 1997 he curated the exhibition The Pursuit of Painting at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Also, a retrospective of his work was held at the Hans and Sophie Tauber Arp Foundation in Bonn, Germany, and his work has appeared in numerous group shows internationally.

Painting is the art of decoration and representation – of making images of ourselves and the world surrounding us, and making them visible to the senses and intelligence of others. That is not intended as a water-tight definition but may serve as a starting point for practical or even speculative matters. SMcK 1980, Parables of Painting

You can see this exhibition at the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art Carlow from 9th February to 19th May 2019.


Malgorzata

Blogger. Volunteer. Enthusiast of photography, nature, architecture, and cultural events. Since 2014 living in County Carlow in Ireland.

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