Damian FitzGerald
The Naughty Chair
Damian FitzGerald’s new exhibition The Naughty Chair invites the viewer to take a seat inside the frame of his sublime landscapes and ponder the state of the world we live in. Choosing a light hearted perspective FitzGerald addresses serious current issues with the aid of humour and absurdity.
Predominantly large ink on paper works, FitzGerald’s new series references Japanese scrolls and silk paintings that received western appreciation in the 19th century thanks to artists such as Hokusai and his contemporaries. Drawing on these influences FitzGerald has made a suite of images using traditional Japanese calligraphy brushes, old pen and ink nibs and handmade feather quills.
Referencing the humour and innuendo of Eastern masters FitzGerald has taken a Taoist approach to these landscapes in searching for a balance between order and chaos, both in materials used and composition. Like many of his past exhibitions FitzGerald has created landscapes exploring Man’s relationship to nature. The compositions are devoid of figures yet humanity is made present by the seemingly animated little red chair.
The multi-layered symbol of the little red chair begs for questions to be answered.
The Naughty Chair runs until April 24 2010.