It will be on at Avenue Road Gallery, 30 Avenue Road, Portobello, Dublin 8. Opening Reception is at 6pm, and all are welcome!!
Exhibition Duration 17/11/12 - 24/11/12, 12pm to 6pm
'The How and Why Library' by Eleanor McCaughey is a series of paintings created from appropriations of images found in Childcraft books of the 60's, 70's and early 80's. Childcraft was created as an encyclopedia, of sorts, for young children. With simple texts and illustrations, the volumes were designed to make learning amusing and engaging. Each volume addressed different subjects, including literature, mathematics and the sciences.
This series began with the move, and loss, of McCaughey’s childhood home. This finality inevitably led to cataloging, preserving belongings, and filing the associated memories. The Childcraft books, a once steadfast presence on the living room bookcase, were unearthed once more. McCaughey recalls spending hours soaking in the pages filled with images and diagrams. Returning to these books years later, the clarity and freshness of the images in her mind led McCaughey to consider the printed image, it’s ability to encapsulate the past, allow the viewer to visit it, in the present.
This series reflects McCaughey’s thoughts on the advances of modern day, focusing on morality and it’s beginnings. Allowing what she has read, learnt, seen and remembered to inform her work, McCaughey focuses on her main interests.
“Fundamentally I am interested in people, how we communicate, how we learn and adapt to our environment.”
Eleanor McCaughey is an Irish artist living and working in Dublin. She graduated with a certificate in Classical Animation and a HND in Graphic Design from Ballyfermot College in 2001. In 2009 she took advanced entry into third year DIT Fine Art and received an honor degree in 2011. McCaughey has exhibited both nationally and internationally including The National Portrait Gallery in London, The Royal Ulster Academy Belfast and the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin.
Avenue Road Gallery 30 Avenue Road , Portobello, Dublin 8 www.avenueroadgallery.com avenueroadgallery@gmail.com Tel: 01-521 8873
‘The How and Why Library’ Curated by Jennette Donnelly
