Ciara O'Hara

ciara.ohara@gmail.com
Born May 1983

Artist Statement

My recent work has concentrated on the death of a phobia, or at least the passing of one feeling into another. The loss of a strong feeling, be it fear, love or loneliness is at the core of this work. The image of the dead bird obviously symbolised death, but also paradoxically hope, ideas of re-birth and the mythological winged creature carrying the soul to the next world inform this work.

For me birds have always caused an uneasiness to well inside me, manifesting as a phobia. They exist in our world and yet seem far removed from us mammals. Their physical make-up, movement, soft bodies and hard beaks all balanced on such skinny legs with their clawed toes have always invoked an uncomfortableness within me. Their world of flight and song is removed form ours and has always created wonder in man. Fear is mostly concentrated in the unknown so by studying the avian form in detail these feelings subsided. As a method to overcome strong unwanted feelings, studying and reproducing has become a cathartic experience. And with it the bird/wing image has come to embody a liberation within my work and myself. The image of the dead bird creates a sense of lost hope and opportunity for freedom. Their fragility now overtakes their power.

Through using paper and porcelain as my media, I wish to emphasis this fragility. Space in my work is often ambiguous, in a way, removing a sense of either the interior or exterior space. No connotations can be made when the subject belongs to an invisible or unrecognisable space, detached from its usual form. And it is in this environment that the ordinary can be looked upon anew.

Education

  • 2008 MA Cultural Policy and Arts Management, UCD
  • 2006 BA (hons) History of Art and Fine Art, NCAD, specialising in printmaking
  • 2002 Fevtac level 2 Art and Design, Colaiste Dhulaigh, Coolock

Collections

  • Office of Public Works, Newman House and several private collections.

Exhibitions

  • December 2008 - ‘The Sycamore Salon’, Sycamore Street, Dublin 2, Group Show
  • December 2008 - ‘About Time’, Stone Gallery, 70 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Group Show
  • March 2008 - ‘Lens’, Stone Gallery, 70 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Group Show
  • September 2007 - ‘Culture Night’, Access to Arts, Third Floor, The Design Tower, Trinity Centre, Dublin 2
  • July 2007 - ‘Boyle Arts Festival’, King House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
  • May 2007 - ‘177th RHA Annual Exhibition’ RHA, Ely Place, Dublin 2
  • December 2006 - ‘Impressions 2006’, Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick St., Galway
  • December 2006 -‘Treat’, Talbot Gallery and Studios, 51 Talbot St., Dublin 1
  • September 2006 - ‘Contemporary Paintings and Prints’, Adams, 26 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.26 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  • September 2006 - ‘Contemporary Irish Art Exhibition’, Central Bank, Dublin 2.
  • September 2006 - ‘Being and Becoming : Recent Graduate Exhibition’ Stone Gallery, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Group Show.
  • August 2006 - ‘RDS Student Awards’ travelling exhibition, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Main Guard, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
  • June 2006 - ‘NCAD Graduate Exhibition’, NCAD, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8
  • May 2006 - ‘176th RHA Annual Exhibition’ RHA, Ely Place, Dublin 2
  • May 2005 - ‘The Fantastic Mr Tom plus Thirteen Others …’, Cross Gallery, Francis Street, Dublin 8, Print Group Show.
  • 2004 - Joyce 100 - travelling exhibition
    • NCAD, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, Ballyfermot Library, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10
    • Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin 24
    • National Print Museum, Beggars Bush, Dublin 4
    • October 2003 - Kennedy Gallery, 12 Harcourt St, Dublin 2, Group Show

Forthcoming: