by Evelyn Cullen
RATHLIN O’Birne Island, situated two kilometres west of the Malin Beg coastline at the south-west tip of Donegal will feature in a striking new body of work focusing on Ireland’s offshore islands.
“Ar an Imeall – On the Edge’ by Kildare based artist Pamela de Brí explores the in-depth story of Ireland’s offshore islands encapsulating their history, culture and their overall essence.
The exhibition, which will run from April 26 to June 7 at Kilcock Art Gallery in Kildare, will display 30 paintings out of 58 ‘oil on board’ pieces, a body of work which took six years to create.
“This is a celebration of our islands and their rich history” said Ms de Brí.
“The earliest inhabitants of Ireland lived on the shores and adjoining islands, and this body of work reflects that history. My collection invites the viewer to contemplate that and how it informs our present day” she said.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a book which will be published in the Autumn and is the first time that anyone has depicted our offshore islands in painting with supporting stories.
The volume of work was inspired by the artist’s love of islands which she has nurtured from childhood.
It features offshore islands from Rathlin Island off the coast of Antrim, to islands scattered around the Ireland’s south, east and west coasts, some of them inhabited and some not.
“The islands were little worlds of their own. However challenges such as emigration and the availability of services like education and health, not to mention the weather, often renders them inaccessible” said Pamela.
As part of her research, she visited a large number of the islands and took care to read about each and every one in order to get a glimpse into their worlds.
“These islands have suffered famine, storms and emigration. This project aims to ensure that they will never be forgotten.”
The beautiful painting of Donegal’s Rathlin O’Birne island (pictured) will feature alongside paintings of Achill Island in Mayo, Inishturk west Mayo, Ireland’s Eye off Dublin, Straw Island off the coast of Galway, Tearaght off the Blasket’s, Scariff in Kerry and one of the smallest – Mew Island in County Down which houses Mew Island Lighthouse.
If you can’t make it to Kildare for the exhibition you can also see it online www.kilcockartgallery.ie and www.pameladebri.com
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