Thoughts on the Seeders Exhibition

Seeders

Through the “Seeders” exhibition, artists Corina Duyn and Pascale De Coninck, share their thoughts and experiences through sculpture and tapestry.  Both artists are greatly influenced by the natural world. Nature is the filter through which their mainly figurative art emerges.

The artists hope that the art developed from these initial seeds of thoughts will in turn create seeds in the minds of the viewers to explore, see, and feel.

Corina Duyn lives with the condition ME. Living life in the slow lane ,she became a great observer of her immediate natural surroundings. This is evident in her artistic and written work. (Books: Hatched 2006, Cirrus Chronicles 2009, Flying on Little Wings 2011).

The first decade of living with the illness the focus of her work was that of the lifecycle of a bird. Starting life afresh as the embryo in an egg, being a fledgling but as she realised only recently, this desire to fly, was also a flying away from the reality of pain and isolation. Creativity has been hugely influential in how Corina has been able to deal with the reality of illness.

Her latest body of work was initially inspired by ‘Naked Truth’. This self-portrait sculpture of a woman seated on a paired-down wheelchair portrays the rawness/reality of living with a disability. In contrast with her earlier work of birds and flying, she recently explored the need to be more grounded and rooted.  The resulting artworks are doing just that: many of the works are created from pieces of root or branches with figures emerging from the bark. 

Corina is currently attending the part-time Disability Studies course at UCC. This course has greatly influenced her focus in life, and in turn her artwork, such as ‘Dipping Toes’, ‘Riding on a Wave of Enthusiasm’ and ‘On the right course, which all portray her tentative steps, and the struggles to be part of society within the restrictions of illness/disability. Within this study she is focussing, where possible, on Disability Arts. This resulted in making the experience of this Seeders exhibition inclusive to people of all abilities.

The Seeders exhibition will give the viewer a glimpse into her world.

Pascale De Coninck’s tapestries capture universal messages, again conveyed through the filter of nature.  “Beneath” is inspired by the thought that more often what you see is not what is. By being open and not let the first images stop us from really listening and seeing, we get to know people. Beneath everyone’s layers is a heart that wants to be loved and a heart that loves. Nature's healing beauty captured in lines of light; vulnerability of people portrayed through layers of bark.

At the heart of the tapestry “Reach” is fear of the other. Fear of the unknown darker side, which prevents us from reaching out. We can learn that the warm colours of our own home glow on the other side. This too is Love. The acceptance in an open hand.

By expressing these experiences through her work, an endless upward spiral is created, where the artist learns from her own tapestries, discovering an even broader message and inviting the viewer to do the same. Years after having woven it, “Reach,” taught her that there was a darker, feared side inside herself and that only by turning towards it was she able to see and begin to heal.  Through this, her ability to reach out towards others grew.

The exhibition is open to people of all abilities. During the launch of the exhibition there will be a sensory access session for people with visually impairment. (1.30 pm please ring ahead), the building is wheelchair accessible. Any written material is available in Large Format Print (Gallery copy), and at the talk, after the official opening; there is a sign interpreter available.