Donegal artist Marty Kelly will compete for the biggest prize in Irish contemporary art at Vue 2016 at the Royal Hibernian Association gallery from November 3-6.
The €5,000 Vue Contemporary Art Prize presented by Savills will be awarded to the artist who has produced an outstanding body of work in the last year or made some other substantial contribution to the visual arts in Ireland.
19 of Ireland’s leading contemporary art galleries have each nominated an artist as a contender for the prize and RHA director Dr Patrick Murphy, who has an extensive track record as a curator of contemporary Irish art, will adjudicate.
Carndonagh native Kelly has been nominated by the Gibbons and Nicholas gallery in Dublin, where he completed “There’ll be no bloody bluebirds”, a series inspired by the current migrant crisis in Europe.
After seeing the White Cliffs of Dover on a return trip from Calais, Kelly was reminded of the patriotic song by Dame Vera Lynn and decided to use the bluebird as a metaphor for refugees.
The series explores issues of unity and separatism and how we identify with each other through compassion, love, gratitude, acceptance, pity and fear.
“My current work investigates how we identify ourselves,” Kelly said.
“Why do we see someone else’s experience of life as being wholly separate from our own? Compassion is seeing ourselves in each other rather than fear. Work is for me part of a daily meditation exploring these issues and states of being.
“Sometimes we see others as less worthy or imprisoned and sometimes they are not. I’m observing the world and society as a self-enquiry. I don’t have the solution but I hope the work generates awareness and empathy.”
Last year’s prize was awarded to abstract artist Richard Gorman who collaborated with Stoney Road Press for his series ‘Kan’ – three monumental (150 x 110cm) carborundum prints on handmade Indian paper.
“This is only the second year the Savills Art Prize has been presented at Vue and we hope the award will become as important to Irish art as the Turner Prize is in the UK,” said Vue 2016 organiser Louis O’Sullivan.
“Savills are the perfect partner to present the Prize as most art is found in homes and businesses, and not just museums.
“Vue 2016 is a great opportunity for collectors and investors to experience some of the best contemporary art currently being created in Ireland, and to get some expert advice and guidance from leading galleries.”
Opening hours for Vue 2016 are 6-8pm on Thursday, November 3, 11am-8pm on Friday, November 4, 11am-7pm on Saturday, November 5, and 12-6pm on Sunday, November 6.
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