20 October – 16 December 2000
© Victor Sloan
“Troubled takes us on a journey faced up to by a group of small courageous Irish artists who, when confronted by the radically new and explosive situation of the ‘Troubles’, were forced to develop a new visionary vocabulary to deal with the situation. It also makes us realise how universal are the themes born out of suffering, violence and hope”.
Curator, Brian McAvera
Troubled, curated by Brian McAvera and co-ordinated by PMG is a vibrant exploration of the territory, charting the rich complex world of art ‘under pressure’. With the current advance in cross-party agreement, this timely exhibition will examine mixed media work by the most significant Northern Irish artists working today. This is an exhibition, which shows Northern Ireland in a new light, delivers a powerful aesthetic charge, and allows the viewer to discover the ‘unknown country’ of Northern Ireland.
For the past thirty years Northern Ireland with its bombs, bullets and remorseless death toll has been the centre of world attention. Many artists from across cultural perspectives have responded to the everyday experience of living and working within a ‘troubled’ environment,. This work has inevitably been coloured and influenced and even dedicated by these pressures.
A major retrospective and positive appreciation of the art produced during the ‘troubles’ by eight key artists, each showing a body of work from a variety of cultural perspectives, bringing together a comprehensive overview of paintings, sculptures, photography and installations.
Whether exploring the manipulated photographic imagery of Victor Sloan (a reaction to the simplifications of photojournalism); the mordant satiric visions of Jack Packenham, Gerry Gleason, Graham Gingles and Marie Barrett; the direct often symbolic images of Brendan Ellis or the holistic and healing explorations in the assemblages of Tom Bevan and the installations of Una Walker. By turns subtle and savage, satiric and soulful, vibrantly colourful or densely yet quietly narrative, this exhibition is designed to intrigue, fascinate, and educate.
Accompanying catalogue and an educational pack produced by Pitshanger Manor Gallery will be on sale for the duration of the exhibition.
PM Gallery & House
Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, London W5 5EQ
Tel: (020) 8567 1227
Email: pmgallery&house@ealing.gov.uk
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 1pm-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm
Tube: Ealing Broadway
Rail: Ealing Broadway
Bus: 207, 83, 607, E1, E2, 112, 297, PR1, E7, E8
Car park: Ealing Broadway Centre, access via the Grove from Ealing Green. Springbridge Road, access via the New Broadway.
