Exhibitions
Difficult Joys by HERmetics
'Difficult Joys' by HERmetics features work by painters Sinéad Aldridge, Louise Wallace, Patricia Doherty, and Mary Theresa Keown.
The exhibition ‘Difficult Joys’ by ‘HERmetics‘ opens at 7pm on Thursday 31 October in Strule Arts Centre, Omagh.
‘HERmetics’ are painters Sinéad Aldridge, Louise Wallace, Patricia Doherty, Majella Clancy and Mary Theresa Keown. They all make richly layered abstract paintings and are versed in the multiple and opposing conditions of abstraction. They work with colour and gesture where marks are layered up, pared back and nudged forward. A spokesperson for the group explains:
‘HERmetics began with a mutual interest in translating what happens when painters paint in the studio; what unfolds there can be difficult to describe. Painters Louise Wallace, Majella Clancy, Mary Theresa Keown, Patricia Doherty, and Sinéad Aldridge come together in monthly Zoom meetings to discuss, among other things, the changes, transformations, rejections, or stalemate in their practice. Versed in multiple and opposing conditions of abstraction, we have found common ground on the importance of experimentation, impermanence, and subjectivity. Various points of interest reoccur in our dialogues: our experience with painting’s history; artistic doubt and certainty; pause and push within our practice; networking versus the solitary maker. These binaries are useful as starting points for our panel discussion. It is a way to re- conceive a value system and a reappraisal of abstract painting that we can get behind.’
Speaking about the exhibition, Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Elaine Brough, said:
“I am delighted that this exhibition is being hosted by Strule Arts Centre for our residents to view and enjoy.
It is a great example of how bringing together people with mutual interests can foster support, encouragement, personal growth and a sense of belonging. Each artist’s work is unique and tells its own story, however, collectively they complement each other as they form part of the bigger picture of life as an artist.
I commend Sinéad, Louise, Patricia, Majella and Mary Theresa on these excellent works and how they have seamlessly brought them together as one exhibition. I would encourage as many people as possible to view the exhibition while it is on display.”
The exhibition runs until Saturday 30 November, 9.30am – 5pm, Monday – Saturday. Admission is free.
For more information, contact strulearts@fermanaghomagh.com or see https://struleartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/difficult-joys-by-hermetics/
Artist Bios
Louise Wallace
Born in Belfast (1970), Wallace is a painter and lecturer in Fine Art Painting, Belfast School of Art. She was longlisted for the John Moore’s Painting Prize 2020, shortlisted for the BEEP Painting Prize 2021 and won the Jackson’s Oil Award in 2024. She has exhibited in New York, Beijing, London and Dublin. Her work is in public collections including Arts Council NI and Ulster University. She had her first institutional solo show at The MAC, Belfast 2023.
‘My work is rooted in the overlooked places of Belfast city, re-picturing its difficult history using playfully subversive imagery. ‘
Majella Clancy
Born in Co Leitrim, Clancy completed her MFA (2006) and practice led PhD (2012) at Ulster University, Belfast. She has exhibited in many group and solo shows, most recently: HOUSEHOLD editions, La Roche House, Belfast (2024) Structure (Solo) QSS Gallery & Studios, Belfast (2022). She presented her paper, ‘The Expanded Gesture: Painting Gender and Materiality after De Kooning’ at Painting in the Expanded Field: A Symposium, Crawford College of Art, Cork (2024). Her work is held in public and private collections.
‘I draw from life exploring the language of motherhood, the gendered body and its relationship with gesture, form and materiality.’
Mary Theresa Keown
Born in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland in 1974, Keown now lives and works in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim. She graduated with first class honours B.A. in Fine Art 1997. Keown completed a PhD at the University of Ulster in 2022 with a thesis entitled Hyphenation as a Critical Tool for Contemporary Irish Painting. She has exhibited her work throughout Ireland, and internationally. Her international shows include Tokyo, Japan; Bilbao, Spain.
‘I try to resolve my paintings through shape-fussing and drawing, I am interested in how they demonstrate a type of struggle.’
Patricia Doherty
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Doherty graduated with BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art from Camberwell College of Art and MA in Painting from the Royal Academy Schools, London. Her work has been in numerous group and solo exhibitions including RHA Dublin, Kuenstlerhaus Schwandorf, Germany and Model Gallery, Sligo. The work is held in private and public collections including: OPW (Dublin), Staatliche’s Bauamt (Regensburg) and BBC Art Collection (London). Her work is represented by the Fenderesky Gallery in Belfast.
‘The paintings are multi-layered, not only in terms of their making but also from a philosophical perspective – evolving through momentary acts of improvisation, they seek to find meaning and resolution elsewhere.’
Sinéad Aldridge
Aldridge is an Irish artist based between Berlin and Co. Sligo, Ireland. Born in Belfast in 1963, graduating with a fine art degree from Camberwell College of Art London and a Masters in Visual Arts Practices from IADT Dublin. She is the recipient of a one-year DAAD scholarship at the Karlsruhe State Academy of Fine Arts Germany. Showing her work in solo and group exhibitions in Ireland, Germany, Denmark, France, Japan, and the UK. Her work is in private and public collections, i.e., the Arts Council NI, Galway University, and the Irish Embassy Mexico.
‘Events are played out in the paintings using a gamut of gestures, often repeated, underscored, or overwritten. Mark marking is a signal for the trials and joys of daily life.’
Instagram posts
Louise Wallace: https://www.instagram.com/louisewallaceartist/?hl=en
Sinead Aldridge: https://glogauair.net/artist/sinead-aldridge/
Patricia Doherty: https://www.instagram.com/patriciadoherty.visualartist/
Mary Theresa Keown: https://www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie/whats-on/exhibitions/tbc
Difficult Joys runs until Saturday 30 November, 9.30am -5pm, Monday – Saturday. Admission is free.
