The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Brandon artist joins the masters
THE work of Brandon print-maker Niall Naessens is the focus of the first major exhibition of 2018 in the National Gallery, where he shares space with renowned British landscape artist JMW Turner..
The exhibition entitled ‘Good Morning Mister Turner’ brings together the Gallery’s collection of watercolours by Turner and the work of Niall Naessens.
JMW Turner (1775-1851) is widely regarded as Britain’s greatest landscape artist and individual pieces of his work have sold for over €38 million in auctions at Sotheby’s. In the current exhibition, Niall’s and Turner’s work are placed in adjacent rooms in the Gallery.
Niall, who has long been interested in the work of the great 19th Century artist, started a discussion with the National Gallery’s Curator of prints and Drawings about his admiration for the work of Turner, which culminated in this joint exhibition of landscapes. According to the National Gallery “the show will invite visitors to compare and contrast, and to enjoy the connections between these two artists separted by time”.
“Making work for my roomshare with Turner has been a provoking challenge. The rationale of showing my work beside the Vaughan Bequest of watercolours at the Gallery is to pay homage to J.M.W. Turner through the creation of new work under his influence” said Niall.
The Vaughan Bequest is a collection of 31 Turner watercolours and drawings given to the Gallery in 1900 by the English collector Henry Vaughan (1809-99), on condition that the watercolours are shown free of charge in the month of January.
High praise has been heaped on Niall by the Curator of Prints and Drawings in the National Gallery who said, “the art of both Turner and Naessens combines the ordinary and the extraordinary. Both artists manipulate landscape, subtly changing things to suit their purpose”
Niall has lived since 2004 in Brandon where he runs the Bacús Bakery with his wife, Orla. A graduate of NCAD, he worked as a master printer in Graphic Studio for many years and his work is represented in many public collections including AIB, the Office of Public Works, the Chester Beatty Library, DCU Contemporary Art Society of Ireland and the National Gallery. He was central to the development of the Meitheal Eitseala artists’ print making group in West Kerry.
Niall will give a talk about his work on Friday, January 19 in the National Gallery at 3.15pm and the exhibition will run until January 31.
Meanwhile, a group of West Kerry art lovers made the journey to Dublin to see this exhibition and an exhibition by Clare painter Frederic William Burton. During their visit they had a brief talk from Muriel McAuley. Muriel is a descendant of painter Frederic William Burton, granddaughter of Thomas Mac Donagh and great niece of Grace Gifford who married Joseph Mary Plunkett in Kilmainham Jail the night before his execution.
Apart from seeing the art exhibitions the group were shown memorabilia, including: the lapis and moonstone cross McDonagh gave his wife as an engagement present, and the telegram he sent her when he had arranged a time and place for their secret wedding.
The group, who undertake trips to view artworks in Ireland and Europe was formed by Máire Uí Shíthigh. To find out more about the group, contact Brenda Ní Shúilleabháin, brendanish@gmail.com