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tour.description = Beyond Darkness - Susan Mannion- Sept - Oct 2021
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Susan Mannion
A new exhibition by Boyle based visual artist Susan Mannion, Beyond Darkness features works of enamel on steel and copper in response to the past few months of living with COVID restrictions. The exhibition includes a large scale enamel work depiction of being contained in a small space and looking towards nature and the outdoors for emotional balance.
The elements of nature run through the exhibition, reflecting our dependency upon it as a means to escape from our enclosed spaces during lockdown. This body of work has grown out of a sense of restless energy and a need for change and adaption.
Originally from Omagh, Susan is now currently based in the west of Ireland where she is a printmaker and copper enamellist. Susan is influenced by landscape and patterns in nature, her work evolving from observed detail captured by sketching then laying down the image onto the block or copper surface creating intricate thread-like lines and fine textural incisions to create an atmospheric, surreal asthetic, distilling a sense of place, time and memory. Susan has exhibited work nationally and internationally with her work being held in several public and private collections worldwide. She has been awarded several commissions and residencies including The Dock, Cill Rialaig, Valerie Earley Award, Tyrone Guthrie Residency Award, Arts-Science Residency Award and the MI-Lab Mokuhanga six week residency in Japan.
Beyond Darkness
Susan Mannion
A new exhibition by Boyle based visual artist Susan Mannion, Beyond Darkness features works of enamel on steel and copper in response to the past few months of living with COVID restrictions. The exhibition includes a large scale enamel work depiction of being contained in a small space and looking towards nature and the outdoors for emotional balance.
The elements of nature run through the exhibition, reflecting our dependency upon it as a means to escape from our enclosed spaces during lockdown. This body of work has grown out of a sense of restless energy and a need for change and adaption.
Originally from Omagh, Susan is now currently based in the west of Ireland where she is a printmaker and copper enamellist. Susan is influenced by landscape and patterns in nature, her work evolving from observed detail captured by sketching then laying down the image onto the block or copper surface creating intricate thread-like lines and fine textural incisions to create an atmospheric, surreal asthetic, distilling a sense of place, time and memory. Susan has exhibited work nationally and internationally with her work being held in several public and private collections worldwide. She has been awarded several commissions and residencies including The Dock, Cill Rialaig, Valerie Earley Award, Tyrone Guthrie Residency Award, Arts-Science Residency Award and the MI-Lab Mokuhanga six week residency in Japan.
WITHIN OUR GRASP
Susan Mannion
“What a strange year” is the most common thing I have heard during this prolonged COVID-19 period. I have kept a written and visual diary of what people have said to me, their feelings, triumphs, sadness and loneliness expressed in this time. I have recorded my own feelings too, frustrations and celebrations as the artworld changed. I took the opportunity to create a new artwork based on these experiences, paying tribute to the people of my town, their resilience and community spirit in such adverse times. I created a large-scale enamelled panel sculpture which is displayed here on the floor of the gallery at the Flowerfield Arts centre.
The Artwork:
This enamel work was created from 72 copper panels with sifted enamel powder applied to the metal surface. The copper and enamel powder are heated in a kiln to 900 degrees Celsius so that the enamel liquifies and bonds with the copper, forming a glass skin on the metal surface. Gold and silver leaf have been applied to some areas of the sculpture.
The lower section of the artwork reflects on the nature of the COVID-19 restrictions, particularly, staying at home and not traveling beyond two kilometres. The wallpaper motif in the background references that some historical wallpapers were made with arsenic, a poisonous substance, indicating that home was not always a safe place for people.
The upper section of the artwork shows the resilience of the human spirit and how we found relief from emotional stress through the natural world around us, walking and cold water swimming. The earth is depicted as a very small entity as we shared a common purpose.
Film: A short film accompanies this artwork Click To View
I would like to thank -
Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund and Business To Arts for financial support in the creation of this artwork and the People of Boyle for their support and resilience during these “strange times”
WITHIN OUR GRASP
Susan Mannion
“What a strange year” is the most common thing I have heard during this prolonged COVID-19 period. I have kept a written and visual diary of what people have said to me, their feelings, triumphs, sadness and loneliness expressed in this time. I have recorded my own feelings too, frustrations and celebrations as the artworld changed. I took the opportunity to create a new artwork based on these experiences, paying tribute to the people of my town, their resilience and community spirit in such adverse times. I created a large-scale enamelled panel sculpture which is displayed here on the floor of the gallery at the Flowerfield Arts centre.
The Artwork:
This enamel work was created from 72 copper panels with sifted enamel powder applied to the metal surface. The copper and enamel powder are heated in a kiln to 900 degrees Celsius so that the enamel liquifies and bonds with the copper, forming a glass skin on the metal surface. Gold and silver leaf have been applied to some areas of the sculpture.
The lower section of the artwork reflects on the nature of the COVID-19 restrictions, particularly, staying at home and not traveling beyond two kilometres. The wallpaper motif in the background references that some historical wallpapers were made with arsenic, a poisonous substance, indicating that home was not always a safe place for people.
The upper section of the artwork shows the resilience of the human spirit and how we found relief from emotional stress through the natural world around us, walking and cold water swimming. The earth is depicted as a very small entity as we shared a common purpose.
I would like to thank -
Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund and Business To Arts for financial support in the creation of this artwork and the People of Boyle for their support and resilience during these “strange times”
Sky Discs I - IV
Susan Mannion
During the lockdowns of the past year, I was able to undertake a virtual artist residency online. The residency activities invited artists to look at the night sky, in particular the Milky Way. Looking at the night sky was a form of escaping the confines of my restricted space, a freedom to roam and explore.
I learned about the Nebra Sky Disc, a bronze disc with gold adornments, about 30cm in diameter. The disc is thought to be the earliest known depiction of the cosmos, possibly dating from c.1600BCE, although the date of the disc is disputed and being revised. The disc has been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and termed one of the most important archaeological finds of the twentieth century.
I love this disc and the creators attempt to capture the sky above them in their lifetime. I decided to create my own Nebra discs, in materials that I had to hand and reflecting the sky I saw during COVID restrictions.
I used copper discs, recycled from the printmaking process, in varying sizes, enameling the front and back of the discs then firing them at 820 degrees Celsius. I tried to depict the day and night sky as reflected on a watery surface. Elements of the Milky Way, the stars and the sun, broken by being reflected in my local lake, Lough Key, and the constant movement of wind across the lake surface.
Six Sky Discs are displayed in this gallery, in two sizes.
Sky Discs I - IV
Susan Mannion
During the lockdowns of the past year, I was able to undertake a virtual artist residency online. The residency activities invited artists to look at the night sky, in particular the Milky Way. Looking at the night sky was a form of escaping the confines of my restricted space, a freedom to roam and explore.
I learned about the Nebra Sky Disc, a bronze disc with gold adornments, about 30cm in diameter. The disc is thought to be the earliest known depiction of the cosmos, possibly dating from c.1600BCE, although the date of the disc is disputed and being revised. The disc has been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and termed one of the most important archaeological finds of the twentieth century.
I love this disc and the creators attempt to capture the sky above them in their lifetime. I decided to create my own Nebra discs, in materials that I had to hand and reflecting the sky I saw during COVID restrictions.
I used copper discs, recycled from the printmaking process, in varying sizes, enameling the front and back of the discs then firing them at 820 degrees Celsius. I tried to depict the day and night sky as reflected on a watery surface. Elements of the Milky Way, the stars and the sun, broken by being reflected in my local lake, Lough Key, and the constant movement of wind across the lake surface.
Six Sky Discs are displayed in this gallery, in two sizes.
Untitled
Susan Mannion
COVID restrictions were beginning to decrease towards the middle of this year. I was able to travel to England to fulfil a commission for the Office of Public Works under the Percent for Art Scheme in collaboration with the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Mayo County Council Arts Service. I was creating an enamelled sculpture, 7m wide by 4m high, for the outside wall of the Visitor Centre at Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park.
I took the opportunity to create some work for this exhibition while I had access to the large kilns in England. The kilns are large enough to take a car and are used for the production of the signage for the Metro and London Underground.
I created the two square panels on display in this gallery. The panels are made of steel and they have had numerous applications of enamel powder. The powdered enamel liquifies in the kiln, set at 820 degrees Celsius, and fuses to the steel to form a skin of glass. The images on these two panels reflect some of the walks I undertook during COVID restrictions.
This display case contains several vessels that I created during the past year. The patterns made by the enamel on the surface of the copper reflects some of the imagery I encountered on my walks in the area where I live.
The vessels are for sale. Please talk to the gallery staff if you are interested.
Large Vessel - £400
Medium Vessel Tall - £230
Medium Vessel Shorter - £250
Small Vessels - £100
Untitled Square Panels & Copper Bowls
Susan Mannion
COVID restrictions were beginning to decrease towards the middle of this year. I was able to travel to England to fulfil a commission for the Office of Public Works under the Percent for Art Scheme in collaboration with the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Mayo County Council Arts Service. I was creating an enamelled sculpture, 7m wide by 4m high, for the outside wall of the Visitor Centre at Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park.
I took the opportunity to create some work for this exhibition while I had access to the large kilns in England. The kilns are large enough to take a car and are used for the production of the signage for the Metro and London Underground.
I created the two square panels on display in this gallery. The panels are made of steel and they have had numerous applications of enamel powder. The powdered enamel liquifies in the kiln, set at 820 degrees Celsius, and fuses to the steel to form a skin of glass. The images on these two panels reflect some of the walks I undertook during COVID restrictions.
This display case contains several vessels that I created during the past year. The patterns made by the enamel on the surface of the copper reflects some of the imagery I encountered on my walks in the area where I live.
The vessels are for sale. Please talk to the gallery staff if you are interested.
Large Vessel - £400
Medium Vessel Tall - £230
Medium Vessel Shorter - £250
Small Vessels - £100
Andrea Spencer
Nicola Nemec
Sharon Adams