BEING TOWARDS
An exhibition of artworks by James Hayes, curated by Patricia Mattingly
on display at the Ashurst Emerging Artist Gallery, 9th November 2020 - 28th March 2021
James Hayes' debut solo exhibition 'BEING TOWARDS', is a representation of the artist's personal and phenomenal experience of particular people and places that form the landscape near his home in the south-west of Ireland. It showcases for the first time his own unique blended form of contemporary engagement with both the genre of landscape painting and an intimate narrative painting tradition.
There is a personal, existential and phenomenological inquiry to be found at the core of his work. He draws inspiration from places, people, and stories, but with focus on the phenomenology of place and the reciprocal nature of the relationships one forges with places. He alludes to a quiet unseen interplay that exists between one's phenomenal experience of a place in the moment and one's own internal meta-narratives. It is this elusive interaction and fluid dynamic which he is attempting to reveal through his paintings. Effectively placing the emphasis on the dynamics at play between the elements and figures he depicts in his scenes, as much as on the individual elements themselves.
There is a personal, existential and phenomenological inquiry to be found at the core of his work. He draws inspiration from places, people, and stories, but with focus on the phenomenology of place and the reciprocal nature of the relationships one forges with places. He alludes to a quiet unseen interplay that exists between one's phenomenal experience of a place in the moment and one's own internal meta-narratives. It is this elusive interaction and fluid dynamic which he is attempting to reveal through his paintings. Effectively placing the emphasis on the dynamics at play between the elements and figures he depicts in his scenes, as much as on the individual elements themselves.
Being in the world, 2020
150 x 100cm Oil on Canvas
This central preoccupation of examining the space between self and one's surroundings, would appear to inherently act as a vehicle for the exploration of many further interrelated and recurring personal sub-themes that often permeate the work. The artist also citing an interest in the examination of themes such as; introspection, loneliness, self-isolation, the nature of masculinity, change and impermanence, the passage of time itself, concepts of being and belonging, the coming to awareness of embodied experience, and the extent that landscape may act as protagonist in the emergence of identity and the becoming of self. His ambition for this work is that it might communicate or illicit a tacit human understanding of the wholeness of our spatial or 'platial' experience, encouraging a more-active awareness of our conscious and unconscious spatial understandings and the creative and transcendent potential that this awareness might provide, in terms of generating self knowledge, altering our perspective of our lives and of our everyday worlds. |
Each piece exhibited in turn beckons the viewer to briefly inhabit the distinct private worlds of the protagonists, and to ourselves enter into the exchange at play between the figures and their surroundings. There is a sense that the paintings each simply bear witness to a still and silent human moment - acting as evocative visual fragments. The figures populating the scenes often seem to be absorbed in something unseen, prompting us to construct and complete the suspended narrative using pieces of ourselves, drawing from our own personal well of phenomenal experience and emotional memory. Combined with this ever-emergent sense of elusiveness, the collection as a whole undeniably and effectively conveys a kind of floating mood and atmosphere of underlying psychological tension. 
Surface Tension, 2020
90 x 60cm Oil on Canvas |
Coping, 2019
101 x 76cm
Oil on Canvas
101 x 76cm
Oil on Canvas
reposing, 2019
30 x 81cm
Oil on Canvas
30 x 81cm
Oil on Canvas
Wanderer beneath the sea of Cloud, 2019
100 x 76cm Oil on Canvas |
Rigour, 2020
101 x 76cm Oil on Canvas |
A man trying to see, 2020
150 x 100cm
Oil on Canvas
150 x 100cm
Oil on Canvas
ABOUT THE ARTIST
James Hayes is an Irish visual artist; primarily an oil painter, but also an illustrator and a qualified architect.
His arts practice is centered around a phenomenological exploration of the complex relationship that exists between self and surroundings.
Having begun painting at an early age, his formal education and professional background in fact lies in architectural design, holding a masters degree from UCD and postgraduate diploma from the University of Westminster. Following a period working in architectural practice, in recent years he has focused on developing a burgeoning artistic practice - today specialising in painting and illustration.
Recently his work has notably been shortlisted for the prestigious 'Jackson's Painting Prize' (2020) and featured on series 5 of the popular Sky Arts televised art competition 'Landscape Artist of the Year' (2019). He has exhibited widely in Irish galleries as part of various group shows, at venues such as The Ulster Museum, RUA-RED, Siamsa Tíre and by invitation as part the annual 'Kerry Visual Artists' Showcase' (2019).
You can see more of his work at www.theliminalpage.com,
or follow him @theliminalpage on Instagram and Twitter.
His arts practice is centered around a phenomenological exploration of the complex relationship that exists between self and surroundings.
Having begun painting at an early age, his formal education and professional background in fact lies in architectural design, holding a masters degree from UCD and postgraduate diploma from the University of Westminster. Following a period working in architectural practice, in recent years he has focused on developing a burgeoning artistic practice - today specialising in painting and illustration.
Recently his work has notably been shortlisted for the prestigious 'Jackson's Painting Prize' (2020) and featured on series 5 of the popular Sky Arts televised art competition 'Landscape Artist of the Year' (2019). He has exhibited widely in Irish galleries as part of various group shows, at venues such as The Ulster Museum, RUA-RED, Siamsa Tíre and by invitation as part the annual 'Kerry Visual Artists' Showcase' (2019).
You can see more of his work at www.theliminalpage.com,
or follow him @theliminalpage on Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Patricia Mattingly is an art and design specialist. Motivated by the process behind the creation and the metamorphosis of ordinary materials into something extraordinary, she finds colour, texture, pattern and form as constant inspirations. The natural world, urban decay, world travel, ethnic and historical textiles, body adornment, street art, music and movement are all seeds of creative potential. Art and beauty are everywhere and Patricia emphasises this philosophy through her own work and the artists she promotes. Her professional experience has incorporated a multitude of creative practices from editorial and commercial styling, working with well-known designers and photographers alike, to designing high-end floral creations adorning New York City’s elite clientele and fashion editorials and a loyal Instagram following. Her formal education includes a Masters of Art Business degree from Sotheby’s Institute of Art -London and a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in fashion design and art history from Pratt Institute - New York.
SEE MORE...
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See more about James Hayes' practice in the Shortlist 2020 Uncovered videos on The Art Prize's YouTube channel. Stay tuned to learn more about James' exhibition BEING TOWARDS also coming to The Art Prize's YouTube channel soon! |