The Olivier Cornet Gallery is delighted to present Eoin Mac Lochlainn's sixth solo exhibition with us, An ghaoth aniar / This too will pass.

“I've been increasingly concerned about nature and Climate Change in recent years and, in particular, I am examining the effects of wind and rain on old fence posts. Why fence posts? We humans have been building fences and partitioning the earth for centuries, creating borders and believing that we are in control of the earth - but this hubris belies our inherent vulnerability and our ultimate dependence on the natural world.

Some time ago, I decided to switch from oils to watercolour in order to have less of an impact on the environment. The switch was both challenging and rewarding – challenging to master the idiosyncrasies of the medium but very rewarding in discovering new possibilities and avenues of enquiry for my practice.

I have been painting this series of fence posts on raw birch panel. The natural grain of the birch becomes an added element in the paintings and the juxtaposition of old and new wood speaks about the past, the present and the future. The weather-beaten fence posts are also a reminder of the ancient Persian adage: This too will pass.”

(Eoin Mac Lochlainn)

Eoin Mac Lochlainn graduated from NCAD in 2000. Based in Dublin, he has had several solo exhibitions in Ireland and participated in selected exhibitions including the RHA, RUA, Iontas, Éigse, Cairde and the Boyle Arts Festival. He has also shown in group shows in England, France, Belgium, USA, China and Georgia. He won The Golden Fleece Award in 2008 and the ESB Keating McLaughlin Medal in 2010. His work is in the collections of the Irish state, The Contemporary Irish Art Society(CIAS), AXA Insurance, AIB bank, Air Lease Corporation, The Boyle Civic Collection, The Pearse Museum, Wesley College, The University of Limerick and the Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame (USA).

His work is often a response to stories in the media and, in recent years, he has explored issues of Homelessness, the Climate Crisis and War.

Primarily a painter, he also creates installations. He switched from oils to watercolour in order to have less effect on the environment. He writes a weekly art blog entitled Scéalta Ealaíne at https://emacl.wordpress.com/

He is represented by The Olivier Cornet Gallery in Dublin.