John Dowling

As a painter, primarily working in oils, there is a necessity that each piece be acknowledged and viewed as an entity in itself. While at the same time, all have a distinct contribution to the formation of a substantial voice.
Furthering to try and meet the dare of painting, an approach to each surface invariably has to be one in which there is a constant grapple with dissatisfaction. Previous paintings can be spliced up, reconfigured and threaded anew. Various soiled baize material from gaming tables are known to become involved. The work requires itself to be blatantly of the hand, roughly hewn while shipshape. A staunch belief in a developed visual language resides throughout – of mark-making in cohorts with colour. And with rhythmical depth; a subversive, solemn opposition to decorum can reveal itself. The filtering of source material by way of memory occurs amid the incessancy of images we are subjected to – and are subject to.
The nuptials that can occur in those fleeting moments between paint and surface are why the why is why.
Summarily, I tend to invent events in a visual sense. To engage with painting can play this way.

BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting
Award 1:1 (2013)
Centre for Creative Arts & Media (CCAM), GMIT, Galway, Ireland.

BA (Hons) Thesis (Distinction): Painting's Increased Necessity Amid The Ever Now

www.johndowlin.wix.com/artist
mrjohndowling@gmail.com

2015
❧ The Image As Not
Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
Group Exhibition, 12th March - 11th April.

2014
❧ Culture Night Group Exhibition (Sept), ARTSPACE Studios, Liosbán, Galway.
❧ K-Fest – Visual Arts + Music Festival, Killorglin, Co. Kerry. 30th May – June 2nd 2014. http://www.kfest.ie/#!artists/cj3a
❧ OSCAILTE 2014 – Artists' Studios Open Day in Galway City. May 10th 2014.
❧ Exhibition of New Work – coinciding with the launch of ARTSPACE's new website, 29th March 2014. ARTSPACE Studios, Liosbán, Galway.

2013
❧ Resonance - ARTSPACE Studios Group Exhibition (September/October), The Shed, Galway. Facilitated by Dr. Áine Phillips.
❧ Overture - Group Exhibition (July/August), Damer House Gallery, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Curated by Therry Rudin and Patricia Hurl.
❧ Graduate Degree Show B.A. (Hons) - (June) Centre for Creative Arts and Media, Cluain Mhuire Campus, GMIT, Galway.

2012
❧ RDS Student Art Awards (August), Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Toured to Newbridge Art Centre, Co. Kildare (September).
❧ Student Showcase Pavillion (June/July), Volvo Ocean Race – Global Village, Galway.
❧ GMIT Art & Design Student Exhibition [B.A. (Ord)], Lombard St., Galway. Curated by Maeve Mulrennan (Ga...