This article is from page 29 of the 2008-12-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
THE work of a Clare art graduate has been on display at the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition in The Digital Hub in Dublin last week.
Ivan Twohig from Inagh is a gradu- ate of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and, earlier this year, he was chosen by The Digital Hub to participate in its annual “Best in Show’ exhibition.
‘Best in Show’ is an art exhibition with a difference. Rather than paint- ings and sculptures, it features dig- ital media work produced by gradu- ates of colleges throughout Ireland and the UK.
The exhibits use sounds and im- ages, gaming technologies, music, animation and advertising tools to depict topics ranging from the need for privacy to the golden age of silent cinema.
Ivan graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 2004 and, in 2008, completed his MA in Art in the Digital World at the NCAD. In addition to his in- volvement in “Best in Show’, he has exhibited both nationally and in- ternationally. In 2007, he received the first Tulca Residency award and was awarded artist in residence at the new IMOCA (Irish Museum of Contemporary Art) studio in Dublin beer
For the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition,
The Digital Hub chose a piece by Ivan called “The Fall’, which is made up of life-sized paper figures, sus- pended and falling from the ceiling of the gallery. As they fall, fluores- cent lights illuminate the figures. The piece is influenced by his interest in architecture and the way in which digital technologies are impacting on the conception and creation of built environments. It was previously on display at the Glor Arts Centre in Ennis.
According to Elaine Parsons of The Digital Hub, who curates the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition, the idea for the show came about because of the difficulties faced by art graduates in establishing themselves as serious AMIS Ice
“One of the biggest challenges faced by graduates like Ivan is taking that leap from being a student to be- ing taken seriously as an artist,’ she said. “The feedback we were getting was that it was difficult for gradu- ates to find opportunities to exhibit in a professional gallery environ- ment. Because of this, The Digital Hub established ‘Best in Show’ to give graduates the chance to exhibit at professional level and help them meet key figures in the art industry”.