Some of you may remember my trip down to Mexico, a couple of years ago, to make art. I am now delighted to tell you that this work, and some more recent paintings inspired by that journey, are currently being exhibited in my ‘Mexican Odyssey’ Show at The Mexican Embassy of Ireland, 19 Raglan Rd, Ballsbridge, Dubin.
'A Mexican Odyssey' - Paintings from the Baja by Cora Murphy
The exhibition, which includes small mixed media works on paper and larger painted works on canvas, was officially opened on 7th September by Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts,Heritage & The Gaeltacht with Ambassador Carlos Garcia De Alba. The show continues to Friday 30th September 2011 – All visitors are welcome Monday – Friday from 10am – 5pm.
Photocall at the launch of 'A Mexican Odyssey (l-r) Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage & The Gaeltacht, Cora Murphy, Anne & Pat Coffey (Daughter & Son in law of the late Michael Kirby) and Ambassador Carlos Garcia De Alba
The Mexican Odyssey series of paintings and collage came about during my visit to Mexico’s Baja Desert in October & November 2009. Having returned to live in Ireland the previous year, following 15 years overseas, I found myself making landscape paintings – this was a departure from my previous work and yet felt instinctive, invigorating and the right thing to do.
'A Mexican Odyssey' Acrylic & Oil on Canvas, 120cm X 100cm (WxH
If I’m honest, the idea of returning to Ireland and making landscapes seemed a bit ‘obvious’ to me. I wanted to explore the idea of landscape and throught the best way to do so was to detach myself from the familiarity of my native environment and immerse myself in a different landscape. And so I travelled to Mexico, where while camping in the desert I made work from limited resources and found objects.
'Into the Great Wide Open' Mixed Media on Board, 19cm X 10cm (WxH)
I went to Mexico with the intention of making a completely different body of work. I expected to be influenced by the abundance of bright colours, the sights, sounds and sensations of that environment – and I was – but camping in the desert with minimal supplies enabled me to immerse myself in that ‘pared back’ environment and to create a very direct and authentic response. The result was a revelation – when I stood back from the work I realised that, while more abstracted, these too were landscapes.
'Autumn leaves in the Baja' Mixed media & found objects, 38cm X 19cm (WxH)
This period in Mexico had an enormous and profound impact on my work – not only was I influenced by the colour, sights and sounds of Mexico-and of course the abundance of great culture and art – but also peculiarly and most significantly – my time in the Baja helped me think more expansively about landscape and effectively marry up – and create a cohesion between – the abstract and landscape in my paintings. In essence it helped me to find a space – within the great traditions of landscape painting – to call my own. Literally equipping me with the skills I’d been lacking to see my own country with an increased love and appreciation
'Waldo Send his Love' Mixed media collage, 22cm X 19cm (WxH)
While making this work I was influenced by many Mexican and Irish art practitioners – most notably the late Phil Kelly (you can see more of Phil’s work at Hillsboro Fine Art on Parnell Square, Dublin – see some images here) . Sadly Phil Kelly passed away last year but not before leaving a rich legacy of paintings made from his stuidio in his adopted home in Mexico City.
'Waldo Sends his Love - Part II' Mixed Media Collage, 20cm X 14cm
I was also enormously fortunate to work with a great bunch of contemporary artists, including Sabrina Ward Harrison, whilst in Mexico. This group works under the informal title of ‘The Prairie Sisters’ – I look forward to collaborating again with them on something wonderful in future. In the Baja we were facilitated by the amazing Angela Ritchie of ACE Camps – I can not recommend Angela and her team highly enough. This work would not have reached fruition without her (pls check out all she does here – it’s amazing!).
'Camping in the Beautiful Baja' Oil & Collage on paper, 20cm X 14cm
Feedback from the show has been great and reviews have been universally positive (phew!). Many thanks to Ros Drinkwater, Art Critic at the Sunday Business Post for her article on my work – see image below – which is a little blurry so you can read the text here.
'Art Down Mexico Way' Article from Sunday Business Post, 11 Sept 2011
Sorry this is turning into a super-long post – must work on frequency and brevity! Please, please do call in to The Mexican Embassy in Dublin before 30th September. As I said at the top – Opening hours are Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm. All visitors are welcome – as a bonus you will also get to meet the lovliest bunch of people who happen to work at the Mexican Embassy.
I am enormously grateful to Ambassador Carlos Garcia De Alba & all the staff at The Mexican Embassy in Ireland whose ongoing support and friendship have made this exhibition possible.
Viva Mexico!
