Mullingar artist Peter Ganly is set to launch his solo art exhibition Observer at the Atrium, Mullingar County Buildings this Thursday 5th January at 6pm.
Peter Ganly is a contemporary artist who lives and works at Lilliput, Lough Ennell. After many years working in motor trade and boat hire, Peter returned to education to pursue a long-held ambition to forge a career in visual arts, and recently graduated with a BA degree in Fine Art from ATU Sligo.
His practice centres on expressive paintings and drawings, ranging from rural lake-land landscapes to social documentary, presenting observations on the world around us, sometimes beautiful and sometimes horrific. Some are inspired by chance encounters such as lakeshore views or a cluster of old buildings, while some of the paintings are more visceral and reactionary. These are triggered by news events and current affairs, focussing on issues such as migration, refugees, and border conflicts.
Inspiration hails from atmospheric realist works of artists such as William John Leech and Edward Hopper, other influences include William Kentridge, Leon Golub and Brian Maguire for their raw depictions of war and conflict.
Peter works in various materials, pencil, ink, charcoal, or acrylics. The mood of the subject can sometimes dictate the method. Chaotic or traumatic scenes often transfer into more physically intense application, brushes get swapped for sticks, palette knives or scrapers.
Speaking of his practice, Peter noted that;
“Painting has an enduring function as a way of documenting the world around us, and the physical permanence of painting as a medium plays a special role in a world saturated with flickering digital imagery.”
Members of the public are invited to attend the launch in The Atrium, County Buildings, Mullingar, on Thursday 5th January at 6pm, with official opening by Westmeath Arts Officer, Miriam Mulrennan.
The exhibition will remain open to the public for two weeks until Friday 20th January.
For further information see www.peterganlyart.com