Sculptures
I have produced a variety of sculptures in
different materials. The first series of work pictured
here are from the 'Journeys'
exhibition held in The Lagan Lookout. This took as its
theme water bound journeys as a metaphor for exploring many
issues.
Following that is a series of work based
around the 'Hands of History'
The center piece for this exhibition is the bronze
casts of the party political leaders who negotiated the Good
Friday Agreement - placed around it are images exploring
various issues that are connected with the conflict in
Northern Ireland. Although this work was inspired by
the NI situation I have exhibited and discussed this work in
front of a number of international audiences who clearly
identified with the issues and images - conflicts around the
globe share similar elements and characteristics.
*Click on any of the Sculpture images to view them at full
size.
Journeys
Exhibition
Title: Journey of Motherhood
Material: Bronze and stone
This piece portrays a pregnant woman in a
long narrow boat.
Title: Journey of Childhood
Material: Bronze and stone
Portraying two children doing cartwheels on a boat,
exhibiting the free nature of children in contrast to the
confining protectiveness of adults.
Title: Journey of Man
Material: Bronze and stone
A
naked man perched on an ironing board and balanced on a
narrow boat, contemplates an iron and a pot.
Title: Immigrant Boat
Material: Bronze and sculpted wood
The sculpted element represents the figures who may have
immigrated through famine or otherwise - the bronze sails
represent the poverty and hope they hoped to find.
Title: Dug Out
Material: Bog Oak. * Acquired by
Antrim Borough Council
This piece represents the scenario of early man journeying
by water and the senses that he may have relied upon.
Sculpted on the side of the boat are images of tools and the
five senses.
Title: Brighter Boat
Material: Bronze and slate.
*Acquired in a private collection
A
commemoration of the original Broighter Boat.
Title: The Spirit Boat
Material: Bronze and stone
This boat represents pagan, Christian and
Muslim travelling together.
The Hands
of History
1. The Hands of History
Material: Bronze and Mourne Granite
The centre piece for this exhibition is the
unique and historical Hands of History. This sculpture is
an artistic record of the aspirations of those British and
Irish political leaders who negotiated the Good Friday
Agreement.
The other sculptures give this centre piece a
context by taking the spectators on a journey that
critically explores many important cultural and political
issues. Although the sculptures in this exhibition are
inspired by the local situation they have a wider global
resonance. The themes of nationalism, culture, religion,
fundamentalism, history and politics are key components in
conflicts across the globe.
In the mid 1990’s eight Northern Ireland (NI)
political parties negotiated and agreed to implement a new
political process based on the text of the Good Friday
Agreement.
Over a period of more than 18 months I cast
the hands of Northern Ireland’s political leaders who
negotiated the document that became the Good Friday
Agreement. Those cast are: David Trimble, UUP, Gerry
Adams SF, John Hume SDLP, Malachy Curran NILP, Monica
McWilliams NIWC, David Irvin PUP, Gary McMicheal UDP, Sean
Neeson ALL. The British Government is represented by Mo
Mowlam the then Secretary of State. I subsequently attached
the hands to a large piece of Mourne Granite.
The Stone: In
ancient times there was a sense of immense power and
permanency about a large rough shaped rock. In mythology
and in contemporary times ordinary people, chieftains and
monarchs touched or sat on a stone to pledge themselves to a
better future.
The Context: The
other pieces in this exhibition give the Hands of History a
real and meaningful context; they critically reflect and
recall aspects of mythology and history that have impacted
on our community and on all of our lives. In the following
pieces I have used various materials that enhance the theme
of the piece.
For example: The Weight of History
has a small bronze owl on top of a piece of spalted beech.
An owl is seen as a bird of wisdom but also as a bird of
prey - this is history it can be destructive and a force for
good depending on how we treat it.
The Red Hand series is made from a
range of material from fresh oak to solid lead. The
fresh oak symbolises the solid nature of an innocent
mythical story, the other images are what we do with the
story, and finally the Lead Hand is something that will
perform the same function as a dead weight.
Title: Red Hand Series
1. Red Hand The Myth, oak 2. The Symbol, mahogany 3. The Other
Symbol, mahogany 4. The Fecked up Symbol, mahogany and 5. The Lead Hand of
Ulster, lead.
 
ps. Red hand 2. 'The Symbol' was stolen while on
exhibition in the James Joyce House Dublin.
Title: Out of Season
Material: Bog oak sword, yew sash,
and oak bowler hat.
A
comment on the marching
season.
 
Title: The Cold Floor
Material: Yew on mahogany Bible
A
comment on the security found within traditional belief
systems.
Title: Not My Son
Material: Limewood and
sandstone
The anguish of a parent who
witnessed the loss of a loved one.
Title: Political Movement
Material: Limewood and sandstone
An expressive comment on the
struggle for political movement in Irish politics.
Title: The Blast Bomber
Material: Bronze and Sandstone
A comment on ‘letting go’ of
destructive forces
Title: Shell Shock
Material: Bronze and sandstone
A comment on the effect of
conflict
Title: Weight of History
Material: Spalted beech, bronze, slate
The role of history
Title: Sleeping Fighter
Material: Oak and Mourne Granite.
A comment on a divided
community dreaming of a new future
Title: Mother Ireland
Material: Bog Oak and stone boots
The mixed messages we get
from mythology
Title: Sacrifice
Material: Bog Oak and sandstone
Religious and political
sacrifice
Title: Did I Surrender
Material: Bronze and sandstone
A comment on the effect of
conflict
Title: Beauty 2
Material: Walnut and Kilkenny limestone
A celebration
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