Phil Collins, 'Real Society': For this, his first major solo show, Collins explores relationships between disparate groups to ask questions about the state of the world today. Ronnie Hughes, 'Lines of Desire': Belfast born artist Ronnie Hughes presents 'Line of Desire', a collection of recent paintings. The works form subtle, but complex visual relationships, with a few essential elements seeking to express a distillation of the artist's experience in and of nature.
Phil Collins 'Real Society'
Ronnie Hughes 'Lines of Desire'
REAL SOCIETY- New Works by Phil Collins
Phil Collins has gained international attention and acclaim for his frank
and honest portrayal of individuals affected by violence, war, political
oppression and sectarianism. Using video installation and photography,
Collins' work explores the complexities of political upheaval and the
reconstruction of identities on a national and individual level. Collins'
portraits and interviews are at once beautiful, personal and contentious.
For this, his first major solo show, Collins explores relationships between
disparate groups to ask questions about the state of the world today. His
work features widely disparate groups of people ranging from Florida voters
who accidentally voted for Pat Buchanan in the 2000 election, the sole
respondent to his advert for a mature (over 40's) Britney in Tel Aviv, a
journalist who he persuades to talk about reporting on September 11th whom
he simultaneously gets blind drunk and students in Baghdad who he asked to
sit for a screen test for a film to be projected in a gallery somewhere in
Northern Ireland.
In Gallery 3 Collins shows 'Real Society', pictures taken during an 18-hour
marathon session in a luxury hotel in San Sebastian. Participants were
invited through press and television to have their portrait taken by an
international photographer - the only condition being that they had to
remove some or all of their clothes. The series, named after the local
football team 'Real Sociedad', documents the unexpected, tender and
sometimes awkward encounters with more than fifty individuals and couples
taking part in this delicate social exchange.
________
LINES OF DESIRE - Recent Works by Ronnie Hughes
Belfast born artist Ronnie Hughes presents 'Line of Desire', a collection of
recent paintings. The works form subtle, but complex visual relationships,
with a few essential elements seeking to express a distillation of the
artist's experience in and of nature. Hughes rejects the notion that this is
simply an exercise in modernist reductionism; rather he argues that the void
created is filled with poetic association and "openendedness". The result is
a body of work in which forms hover and vie for recognition before receding.
The elemental shapes of rings, coils, loops and chain links make references
of a distinctly biological nature, but take their cue from items used in
every day life - "surf boards, Prozac, remote control buttons, tic-tacs,
vitamin pills and e-numbers." The works' austerity is tempered with a
slightly humorous note as the forms at times seem to become animated; a
tendency which undercuts their apparent formalism.
EXHIBITION OPENS THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2003 at OBG, 7PM - 9PM
The exhibition opens on 13 March 2003 from 7pm - 9pm, and runs until
Saturday 19 April 2003, Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00am - 6.00pm. ENTRANCE
FREE.
OBG has an Espresso Bar and range of periodicals and funky postcards for
sale.
For more information, visuals and to arrange interviews please contact
Rachel Kennedy, Gallery Administrator
Tel: + (028) 9032 1402 / Fax: + (028) 9031 2232
Ormeau Baths Gallery
18a Ormeau Avenue BT2 8HS
02890321402