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Visual Artist and writer Ciara Tuite has brought a blast of colour and poetic words to the wonderful OPW building, The Cowshed Theatre at the Farmleigh Estate, Dublin with her new multidisciplinary solo show.
She is delighted to bring her abstract works to the capital city, which was successfully launched on Saturday, July 6 by Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Donna Cooney.
This exhibition highlights Ciara’s journey toward minimalism and letting go of the attachment and preciousness towards certain mnemonic objects in our lives that often weigh us down despite their happy memories. The show invites us all to explore the transformative power in ‘letting go’, to potentially make space for what is more important – connecting to nature, the self and the present moment.
Ciara is a former artist in residence at Abbey Road Studio, Luan gallery, Athlone, Co Westmeath and recently joined as the new artist in resident with Engage Longford Studios which she is excited to be part of within her home county.
Her extensive travels and background in various disciplines has resulted in a multidisciplinary approach seen in her use of poetic text, installations and paintings. The work is defined by bright colours and gestural strokes which is evident around the space.
As an artist, Ciara is conscious of sustainability as she investigates the idea of becoming more minimal. She is continuing to highlight the recurrent theme in her work of ‘body memory’, prompting us to remember when we were more minimal beings, lighter in ‘stuff ‘, yet richer in spirit.
Ironically, Ciara uses rock as the material to represent the lightness of our being due to high energy quartz content. Perhaps some of you can resonate with grinding two quartz rocks against each other to create the wonderful triboluminescence spark. Also, rock has been used for thousands of years as a way of visual storytelling through rock art / cave art. It is evident through the creative energy of Ciara’s works that she is referencing back to ancient symbols, inherent mark-making, and perhaps the celtic spirit within us all.
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People will resonate with the universal themes in this engaging display of art. Most houses in Ireland have an attic or a cupboard full of childhood memorabilia and personal artefacts. Ciara invites us to ask the question in one of her many intereesting quotes – “If Attics had Glass Floors would we keep all the Stuff?”. Regardless of the answer, I am sure everyone and the world at large could welcome more light and colour in their lives and that is what Ciara has achieved with this exhibition. It is her intention to spark a dialogue and encourage people to leave here feeling both reflective and light hearted.
“It is quite touching to see how people resonate with the paintings and words and to hear their personal stories about the often overwhelming task of clearing out the attic of perhaps a deceased relative, deciding ‘what to keep’ and ‘what to throw’, trying to find that balance. It seems to be a familiar story for so many.”
‘Heavy Stuff, Light Us’ is a breath of fresh air as the artist uses visual art to highlight the relevant topic of ‘letting go’ and reconnecting back to the Now and Nature. The show is in its final week and not to be missed. The exhibition runs from until Sunday, July 28. Weds – Sun: 11-5pm
For more information: @cicituite www.ciaratuite.com tuiteciara@gmail.com
