Graduate or degree shows are often the first step into a commercial world of art or design and possibly the first public review of work. For many students it is the beginning of stepping away from organised creativity into an often uncaring of not hostile world where artists are not immune to a chill financial climate.
So it is with the WIT show that is a hopeful mix of dreams, possibilities and some innovative designs that welcome the challenges. There is knowing innocence and challenge like the work of Cara Murtagh, whose artist’s statement catches the eye – I’m Small and Sarcastic and I Love what I Do. She further endears with – Being Crazy Isn’t Enough (Dr.Seuss). Reading this groups statements is a self-serving mix of theory, art speak and pretentiousness but then a phrase makes you look again.
Emma Kavanagh explores the developing world of social media and Facebook was used to advertise this exhibition. Naimh McCarthy has fine photography to explore mermaids, butterflies and Avatar-style blue imagery. Aoife Lahart looks at 7 Ages of Jack with a nod to Shakespeare. Neasa Ní Laoghaire looks at red doors in the most unlikely of places as a fairytale in the real world.
Jamin O’Keeffe is influenced by the barrage of messages in a social media world while Michael O’Brien has a tantalising look at Obsessed Sweet Cartons – very novel, with warnings- Always Exceed the Stated Dose.
How quickly this leads into food and gluttony with Brigid Nelson’s confrontational work – Fat Bastard, Fat Arse, Thick Bitch amid scales, tape measures are literally toilet bowls.
Louise Loughman has a glorious video presentation – Gluteus Arsimus.
Karmel Daly had a wonderful three scenes Beckett style exploration of talking months called Monkey Land.
Sarah Curran had a quirky take on Obsessive Compulsive Order/Disorder that I liked a lot. If you were looking for something as artistic as painting, well you would be looking so you would but Kevin Quirke’s Now It’s Dark was a quality set of charcoal drawings on paper.
But pride of the show must go to Linda Connick for Building from Within, a structure of amazing skill made from branches, twigs and strong twine. It was as primitive as found art, as full as a tree-house and as modern as 3D.
There was a buzz about this show that must hearten the new Head of Department of Creative and Performing Arts Marian O’Neill.
