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Artist Statement for Phil Irish
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There are sacred sites, all around the world. Somehow, these places hold special meaning -- perhaps special power -- in the lives of those who visit. Whether seeking meaning, or a unique tourist experience, the pilgrimage routes of Europe continue to see people crossing mountain ranges on foot. But what are the places that hold special meaning for you?
Irish has been asking people to draw a map for him. The destination? A place of particular significance to them: perhaps where a decision was taken, or an accident happened, or a place of solace returned to again and again. Some people become confessional, giving me instructions on what the place means and how to experience the place fully. Others, in reverent reticence, scratch a few lines and send him into the mystery. Irish follow these maps, full of curiosity and empathy. At the destination point --- significant to another but new to him --- Irish draws, takes photographs, and takes time to explore.
The map and Irish’s response to the place fused as one artwork. He has had to find a specific tree, or order a certain meal from a diner, or find a particular artwork in a museum. Once the process is complete, the finished works spark imagination and wonder in those who engage them. Perhaps others will follow the same maps again? Or will viewers become intentional about their own sacred spaces? Or, in empathy, will one turn to another saying, “Tell me of a significant place on your journey.”
The visual languages in the paintings are diverse and rich, taking the cues from each individual place. There is often a collision between representation and some form of abstraction that points to a metaphorical reading of the scene. There is joy in the sensuality of the medium, pulling the viewer deeper into the experience of viewing, interpreting, and exploring.
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