Brian Fitzgerald I

artists statement I selected exhibitions I education I membership I collections I commissions I 

artists statement:  

In my recent work I continue to explore the subjectivity of my identity. Being Irish, I have become concerned with investigating the social, cultural and historical baggage influencing the growth of my “self”. The work by nature is autobiographical, giving rise to a personal perspective, but still retaining a level of open engagement, allowing me to make various comments, suggestions and criticisms through a visual medium. The themes of memory, loss, life and death, escapism, conflict and religion appear in the work. They are the starting point for the engagement with the ‘ghost of colonialism in Irish cultural Identity’. The selection of material for the production of the work has become more significant, as has the process, execution and presentation, have also become influencing factors in visually translating the questions arising from the exploration as they all inform the analysis of the overall piece. Through the intense exploration of conceptual issues and parallel analysis, a type of mental and political archeology is being employed. This is achieved through the use of stereotypes, collective memory and intensified atmosphere. This creates depicted non-truths converging with the realization of fundamental truths giving rise to being able to extend the narrative beyond the frame edge. For me, I have assumed this ‘role’. I was born into the era of a changing nation, politically, socially and culturally. In the work I try encapsulate this constant change and the haunting of this ghost that follows me around. I question my ‘role’, piecing together fragments of imagery from found sources, as well as personal sources that evoke reactions of inquiry, sadness, anger and harmony. In the work I also aim to question the term of ‘postcolonial’ in regards to my identity and cultural baggage, remembering that globalization has picked up where the Catholic Church and the British Empire has left off.

top

selected exhibitions:

group exhibitions:

date	venue	exhibition
2008	Salon Gallery, London	Salon Summer Show
	Camberwell College of Arts, London	M for MA
	Ropewalk Arts Centre, Lincolnshire	Northern Open Print Exhibition
	Red gate Gallery, London	An Act of Happening
2007	RDS, Dublin	RDS Student Art Awards
	Limerick School Of Art, Limerick	Spectru
	LSAD Church Gallery, Limerick	Open Drawing Awards
2005	United Arts Club, Dublin	Markievicz Medal
2004	LSAD Church Gallery, Limerick	The Shinnors Selection

 top

education:

date	college	award
2008	University Of the Arts London, Camberwell	MA in Printmaking
2007	Limerick School Of Art	BA (Hons.) Fine Art
2006	Limerick School of Art	BA Printmaking

top

membership of professional bodies:

dates	group	function
2005- present	Limerick Printmakers	Studio Workshop

top

collections:

collector	venue/place
Bank Of Ireland	O’Connell Street Branch, Limerick.

top

commissions: 

commissioner	venue/place of commission
Aidian Brookes/ Brookes Properties Ltd.	Carlton Apartments, Henry Street, Limerick.

  top