Isabel Nolan
on a perilous margin
27th November - 23rd December 2009
Isabel Nolan
“The word for world is forest”
2009
mixed fabric, embroidery yarn and thread
200 x 136 cm / 78.7 x 53.5 in
Isabel Nolan
Your silent face
2009
balsa, jesmonite, paint
43.5 x 34.5 x 1.3 cm / 17.1 x 13.6 x .5 in
Isabel Nolan
We are made of light
2009
balsa, jesmonite, paint
38 x 47 x 1.5 cm / 15 x 18.5 x .6 in
Isabel Nolan
In a space, intimately unrelated
2009
metal, plaster bandage, cotton, silk-blend, toughened glass, MDF
object 26 x 30 x 30 cm / 10.2 x 11.8 x 11.8 in
base 91 x 50 x 40 cm / 35.8 x 19.7 x 15.7 in
Isabel Nolan
Uplift
2009
polystyrene, plaster bandage, jesmonite, paint, toughened glass, MDF
object 50 x 16 x 16 cm / 19.7 x 6.3 x 6.3 in
base 31 x 40 x 30 cm / 12.2 x 15.7 x 11.8 in
Isabel Nolan
Dynamic interdependent unity
2009
polystyrene, plaster bandage, jesmonite, paint, toughened glass, MDF
object 25 x 30 x 25 cm / 9.8 x 11.8 x 9.8 in
base 51 x 55 x 45 cm / 20.1 x 21.7 x 17.7 in
Isabel Nolan
Gathering points of energy
2009
polystyrene, plaster bandage, jesmonite, paint, MDF
object 10 x 30 x 30 cm / 3.9 x 11.8 x 11.8 in
Isabel Nolan
A fanaticism of sympathy
2009
metal, plaster bandage, mixed fabrics, thread, paint, MDF
object 28 x 40 x 17 cm / 11 x 15.7 x 6.7 in
base 90 x 60 x 12 cm / 35.4 x 23.6 x 4.7 in
Isabel Nolan
A single drop of benevolence
2009
balsa, jesmonite, paint, toughened glass, MDF
object 47 x 36 x 25 cm / 18.5 x 14.2 x 9.8 in
base 131 x 31 x 31 cm / 51.6 x 12.2 x 12.2 in
Isabel Nolan
Something special in remembrance, 1881
2009
watercolour and waterbased oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm / 19.7 x 15.7 in
Isabel Nolan
Sad time, 1862
2009
watercolour and waterbased oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm / 11.8 x 15.7 in
Isabel Nolan
Sad time, 1439
2009
watercolour and waterbased oil on canvas
30 x 40 cm / 11.8 x 15.7 in
Isabel Nolan
A better life.
2009
balsa, plaster bandage, jesmonite, paint, toughened glass, MDF
object 45 x 35 x 50 cm / 17.7 x 13.8 x 19.7 in
base 75 x 40 x 60 cm / 29.5 x 15.7 x 23.6 in
Isabel Nolan
Margination
2009
polystyrene, plaster bandage, balsa, jesmonite, paint, toughened glass, MDF
object 37 x 25 x 16 cm / 14.6 x 9.8 x 6.3 in
base 81 x 40 x 35 cm / 31.9 x 15.7 x 13.8 in
Isabel Nolan
The Kingfisher
2009
watercolour on canvas
60 x 80 cm / 23.6 x 31.5 in
Isabel Nolan
The biting acid beauty of the stars
2009
steel, cotton, silk, linen, embroidery yarn and thread
76 x 42 x 36 cm / 29.9 x 16.5 x 14.2 in
Isabel Nolan
The outward urge
2009
balsa, jesmonite, paint, MDF
object 43 x 46 x 45 cm / 16.9 x 18.1 x 17.7 in
base 70 x 42 x 32 cm / 27.6 x 16.5 x 12.6 in
Isabel Nolan
Walk quickly through the gathering dark
2009
polystyrene, plaster bandage, jesmonite, paint, MDF
object 34 x 21 x 21 cm / 13.4 x 8.3 x 8.3 in
base 70 x 42 x 35 cm / 27.6 x 16.5 x 13.8 in
Isabel Nolan
Bird of prey
2007-09
watercolour and pencil on paper
30.5 x 23 cm / 12 x 9.1 in
Isabel Nolan
A terrible aching for silence
2009
metal, plaster bandage, jesmonite, silk, paint, MDF
object 27 x 37 x 29 cm / 10.6 x 14.6 x 11.4 in
base 90 x 42 x 35 cm / 35.4 x 16.5 x 13.8 in
Isabel Nolan
The time yet to come
2009
pencil, colouring pencil & watercolour on paper
21 x 29.7 cm / 8.3 x 11.7 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
The transfer of energy is invisible
2009
watercolour and pencil on paper
29.7 x 42 cm / 11.7 x 16.5 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
Terrorvortexbeware
2009
pencil, colouring pencil on paper
21 x 29.7 cm / 8.3 x 11.7 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
Some things are best left unsaid
2009
watercolour and pencil on paper
21 x 29.7 cm / 8.3 x 11.7 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
Fear of the future
2009
watercolour and pencil on paper
29.7 x 21 cm / 11.7 x 8.3 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
City Fox
2009
watercolour and pencil on paper
29.7 x 42 cm / 11.7 x 16.5 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
Abandon Ship
2009
pencil, colouring pencil on paper
29.7 x 42 cm / 11.7 x 16.5 in unframed
Isabel Nolan
on a perilous margin
Kerlin Gallery
27 November - 23 December 2009
Isabel Nolan
on a perilous margin
Kerlin Gallery
27 November - 23 December 2009
Isabel Nolan
on a perilous margin
Kerlin Gallery
27 November - 23 December 2009
Isabel Nolan
on a perilous margin
Kerlin Gallery
27 November - 23 December 2009
“We are on a perilous margin when we begin to look at our future selves, and see our own figures led with dull consent into insipid misdoing and shabby achievement.”
-Middlemarch, George Eliot.
“Recently I read Middlemarch for the first time, I loved it. Unremarkably perhaps, I was struck throughout by the great esteem placed upon making the ‘right’ decisions. Good choices were made both with and against the mores of a society predicated on patriarchy, religious duty and class. It is very hard to know what is a good way to be, but in Middlemarch, above all other factors, following one’s heart (if it beat selflessly...) seemed to be the formula for avoiding “insipid misdoing”.
...I often wonder why things (man-made or natural) came to be made or to exist, and more particularly why one has such strong reactions to, and feeling for them. Frequently I wonder why on earth I want to make yet more things, it is something I am very puzzled by. I find this desire problematic, conceivably even self-indulgent, yet I will passionately defend it against those whom C. S. Lewis dubbed, men “ of radically servile character (who) will never understand. (And who) will ask, ‘But what use is it?’”.
-Isabel Nolan
Reflecting the artist's multifarious practice, this exhibition will include sculpture, painting, drawing and needlework. Nolan's recent work has been described as the perfect marriage of 'an intuitive intellect with a disciplined hand, creating a unique and eclectic body of work'.
This new body of work continues, through such diverse mediums to uncover the hidden energy in things. Nolan's exhibitions present a universe of competing forces where each element is able to hold its own and make its presence felt. It is an art by any means necessary, with a signature that is constantly changing.
In the short time since her first show at the Kerlin in early 2007, Nolan's work has received international attention with numerous group shows including ones at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Musée d’art Moderne de Saint Etienne, Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin, De appel Amsterdam, Beijing Art Museum of the Imperial City, Beijing, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery New York, Mediation Biennale, Poznan, Poland, SMART, Amsterdam and Stroom Den Haag. In 2008 Isabel Nolan presented a solo show at ARTSPACE, New Zealand. Previous shows include a solo show at Project Arts Centre (2005), Temple Bar Gallery & Studios (2005), Glasgow International 2006 and the Venice Biennale, 2005.
Future exhibitions include solo shows at Musée d’art Moderne de Saint Etienne and Gallery side 2, Tokyo. Nolans work is represented in the collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, City Gallery the Hugh Lane, Dublin, AIB, The European Investment Bank, Luxemberg and in various international collections, both public and private.
