you breathe differently down here

Launched by Prof. Kevin Rafter, Chair of the Arts Council on 02 March, with speakers Emer McGowan, Director, Draíocht and Amanda Coogan, Artist/Curator.

Draíocht is delighted to announce you breathe differently down here, its first exhibition of 2022 and its first in-person gallery opening in two years. The exhibition, curated by Amanda Coogan, features 35 emerging artists and is part of a series of initiatives for artists to mark Draíocht’s 21st Birthday.

The exhibition is the outcome of an extensive Open Call to graduates of the last three years (2019, 2020, 2021) from recognised third-level art colleges across the island of Ireland and Irish citizens from recognised art colleges abroad, at BA and MA levels. From 130 submissions, 35 artists were selected from colleges in Ireland, UK and Europe including: Ballyfermot College of Further Education; Belfast School of Art; Crawford College of Art and Design; Dún Laoghaire IADT; Limerick School of Art & Design; National College of Art and Design, Dublin; Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam; Royal College of Art, London; and Technological University Dublin. The work ranges across video, painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, drawing and print.

Participating Artists:
Karolina Adamczak | Nadia Armstrong | Iryna Baklan | Aifric Prior Beliere | John Conway | Dominique Crowley | Owen de Forge | Ellen Duffy | Kelley Farrell | Lana May Fleming | Shane Hynan | Vanessa Jones | Alex Keatinge | Orla Kelly | Seanán Kerr | Martyna Lebryk | Jialin Long | Sarah Louise Lordan | Day Magee | Ben Malcolmson | Michelle Malone | Rory Malone | Steven Maybury | Emily McGardle | Niamh McGuinne | Dominic McKeown | Clara McSweeney | Oisín O'Brien | Patrick O'Byrne | Pól O'Connaill | Vasiliki Stasinaki | Kym Tracey | Luke van Gelderen | Ellen-Rose Wallace | Tina Whelan

The objective of the Open Call was to support and highlight practice by graduating artists and to provide a critical platform for their work which may have had less attention due to the COVID-19 restrictions. A prize fund of €5000 was awarded with the recipients announced at the opening.

Prizes Awarded:
Ellen-Rose Wallace, 'Vessel, Tempus, Shore'
(BA), LSAD, 2021
€2000

Dominique Crowley, 'Capitalocene'
(MA), NCAD, 2020
€1000

Vanessa Jones, 'Clam Girl'
(MA), NCAD, 2021
€500

Steven Maybury, '7 Allen Park Drive'
(MA), Piet Zwart Institute (Netherlands), 2021
€500

Lana May Fleming, 'betty crocker rich and creamy *GRWM*'
(BA), IADT, 2020
€500

Dominic McKeown, 'SWADDLE'
(MA), Belfast School of Art, 2020
€500

The artists were selected by a panel including: Amanda Coogan (Artist/Curator); Emer McGowan (Director, Draíocht); Rory O’Byrne (Fingal County Council Arts Officer); Caroline Cowley (Fingal County Council Public Art Co-Ordinator); Aoife Ruane (Curator/ Director & CEO Highlanes Gallery).

you breathe differently down here was produced for Draíocht by Sharon Murphy (resident curator, Draíocht/artist) and Sara Muthi, (writer/curator).

A series of bespoke ‘in-conversation’ and mentoring for participating artists will accompany the exhibition.