Gortahork based artist Leanne McLaughlin will feature on TG4’s award-winning flagship bilingual arts series, Imeall, tonight January 23rd and on Tuesday January 24th.
Since 2008 Imeall (translated as edge) has been chronicling cultural life in Ireland by getting up close and personal with leading artists in all corners of the country. Shot on location, Imeall provides a wonderful insight into the work of our arts practitioners and, with thoughtful questions from our team of artist-reporters, we catch a glimpse of the creative magic that is our nation’s greatest strength.4
The programme airs at 2.30am tonight and at 3.55am on Tuesday.
The series followed Leanne in preparation for her upcoming solo exhibition and focuses on the artist’s research process. A graduate of the University of Ulster’s Fine Art programme, Leanne has worked on a variety of projects; from fine art exhibitions, public sculptures, community arts, outreach and engagement programs. Her work investigates complexities around identity and our continuous metamorphosed state. Additionally, she explores our manipulated mirrored versions of self, how we choose what we inherit, discover and develop about these characteristics.
Leanne’s inspiration is the everyday, engaging with the landscape, community and humanity, her practice reflects the journey of personal identity and notions of belonging. Her love of nature can be seen in the large insects and botanical forms she creates, and in contrast in her abstract works use mathematics as an essential conception. She regularly engages the community via interactive workshops, where she encourages creative expression as a means of empowering personal identity.
Leanne has created work from Blarney Castle, University College Dublin, Derry City of Culture, The Botanic Gardens as well as, a public sculpture in Mountshannon, Co Clare. Leanne has been awarded the – Donegal County Council, Arts Scheme Award 2021, Scéim Sparánachta d’Ealaíontóirí, 2021 and Scéim Sparánachta d’Ealaíontóirí,2015.
She is the manager and lead artist with ‘Turas Úr’ a visual arts collective, merging sculpture and video installations, since 2021 and her work can viewed at leanne-mclaughlin.com