Emerging Irish Artists: The New Generation Transforming Contemporary Art
Meet the innovative Irish artists born after 1980, leading a creative renaissance and making waves in contemporary art worldwide.
Rain falls today, and its summer scent transports me back to Ireland, where overcast skies were a familiar backdrop to my years there. Eight years have passed since I left the Emerald Isle, but its artistic pulse still pulls me back.
Irish contemporary art has evolved significantly since the turn of the millennium and has gained worldwide exposure, with a new generation of artists born after 1980 making substantial contributions to the global art scene.
This time, I return, albeit virtually, with a purpose: to explore the innovative works of Ireland’s new generation of artists and the dynamic landscape of contemporary Irish art, focusing on emerging talents and their creative approaches.
The Shifting Landscape
While established figures like Fintan Whelan, Aisling Drennan, and Tracy White Fitzgerald continue to shape Irish art, a younger cohort is pushing boundaries and exploring new media.
These artists are addressing contemporary issues through their work, often blending traditional techniques with modern technologies and performance art.
Gary Farrelly: Bureaucracy and Performance
Gary Farrelly, born in Dublin in 1983, exemplifies the multidisciplinary approach of many contemporary Irish artists. Farrelly's work spans installation, written correspondence, drawing, performance, and radio, focusing on themes of infrastructure, bureaucracy, and architectures of power.
Farrelly's practice has evolved from primarily visual art to a more performative state. His project "Going Postal," initiated in 2013, involves sending flat artifacts to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska four times annually until 2077, showcasing his commitment to long-term, conceptual projects.
His recent exhibition "Proximity Papers" at Nadine/NOdine Laboratory for Contemporary Art in Brussels demonstrates his current focus. The show includes works like "Teri Garr International Airport" and "Systems Merger," reflecting his interest in organizational structures and bureaucratic aesthetics.
Farrelly explains, "I think this kind of work that somehow tackles head-on the machinations of being an artist and being kind of disenfranchised and disempowered by like bigger, more powerful mechanisms than you and your practice… I find that ability to produce your own reality through your work to be really, really, well, useful"
Conor Harrington: Street Art Meets Fine Art
Born in Cork in 1980, Conor Harrington has gained international recognition for his unique blend of street art and fine art techniques. Harrington's work often explores themes of masculinity, military history, and urban culture.
Harrington's paintings and murals are characterized by their expressionistic style, combining realistic human figures with abstract elements. He skillfully uses bold linework, shading, and bursts of color to create dreamlike images that balance ethereal qualities with hard realism.
Notable works include "Death in the Afternoon Study" (2011) and "Fight Club (The Mess We Make)" (2013), which showcase his ability to tackle contemporary themes through a lens that merges classical and modern artistic approaches.
His murals can be found across the globe, from New York and Miami to Paris and London. Harrington reflects on his approach, saying, "You cannot talk about art, you have to art about art. I think that quote pretty much sums up my attitude too; I like to paint and let that be it".
Vera Klute: Versatility in Media
Vera Klute, born in Germany in 1981 but based in Ireland since 2001, represents another facet of contemporary Irish art. Klute works across various media, including painting, sculpture, kinetics, drawing, and video animation.
Klute's versatility is evident in her numerous solo exhibitions and commissions. Her portrait of Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, added to the National Portrait Collection in the National Gallery of Ireland in 2014, and her bust of Luke Kelly, unveiled in Dublin in 2019, demonstrate her skill in both 2D and 3D mediums. Klute continues to explore new projects and exhibitions, maintaining a dynamic presence in the art world.
Emerging Voices in Irish Art
A new wave of Irish creatives is making waves in various artistic fields:
Bambie Thug: This Cork-born artist, described as an "alt disruptor," is pushing boundaries in music and performance art. Thug's selection as Ireland's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 highlights the growing recognition of alternative and boundary-pushing artists in mainstream Irish culture. Their unique "ouija-pop" style blends various genres, reflecting a desire to transcend traditional categorizations. Thug states, "My songwriting is an outlet for my emotions. 100 percent it is always like catharsis for me. For me, songwriting is a form of journaling or diarying" [3].
Chalk: This Belfast-based band exemplifies the emerging "trauma techno" genre. Formed during lockdown, Chalk draws from both post-punk and techno to create their distinctive sound. Their music reflects the experiences and anxieties of a new generation of Irish artists, with tracks like "The Gate" and "Kevlar" showcasing their intense, industrial-influenced style. Ross from Chalk explains, "With techno, we were looking at Boiler Rooms and stuff and mixes, and you get an hour mix and then getting ideas off that".
YARD: This Dublin quartet draws inspiration from a range of influences, including noise rock and techno. Their "intense and immersive sensory experience" showcases the experimental nature of contemporary Irish music and sound art. YARD's work bridges the gap between techno and noise rock, creating a unique sonic landscape that reflects the urban experience of contemporary Dublin.
Challenges Facing Contemporary Irish Artists
Despite the vibrant creativity in the Irish art scene, artists face several challenges:
Funding Issues: Recent reports have highlighted disparities in funding access, particularly for Black and Black Irish artists. The Arts Council of Ireland has acknowledged the need for enhanced transparency and new mechanisms to monitor and address discriminatory outcomes.
Representation and Visibility: There's a growing call for more diverse representation in Irish arts institutions and galleries. Artists from minority backgrounds often struggle to see clear pathways for their work to be supported and celebrated.
Political and Social Engagement: Many artists are grappling with how to address complex political issues through their work. For instance, several Irish artists recently withdrew from the SXSW festival in solidarity with Palestine, demonstrating the challenges of balancing artistic expression with political engagement.
Market Reception: As Irish artists push boundaries and explore new forms of expression, they sometimes face challenges in finding receptive audiences and markets for their work, both domestically and internationally.
Infrastructure and Support: While there are initiatives to support emerging artists, many still struggle with access to affordable studio spaces, exhibition opportunities, and professional development resources.
Final words
The landscape of contemporary Irish art is vibrant and diverse, with artists born after 1980 making significant contributions across various media. From Gary Farrelly's explorations of bureaucracy to Conor Harrington's street art-inspired paintings and Vera Klute's versatile approach, these artists are redefining what it means to be an Irish artist in the 21st century.
Emerging voices like Bambie Thug, Chalk, and YARD are pushing the boundaries of music and performance art, reflecting the evolving cultural landscape of Ireland. However, challenges in funding, representation, and market reception persist, highlighting the need for continued support and development of the Irish art ecosystem.
As these artists continue to evolve and new talents emerge, the future of Irish contemporary art looks promising and exciting, poised to make a lasting impact on the global art scene while grappling with the complexities of modern Irish society.