Gormleys Fine Art is proud to present ‘Dublin – Dawn to Dusk’, a two-person exhibition featuring new paintings by Irish artists John Hearne and Laura Cronin.

Cronin’s impressionistic paintings capture snapshots of city life. Her selection encompasses Grafton Street and its surrounding area, amongst the hustle and bustle of pedestrian footfall.  She looks upon Dublin as a social setting and perfectly records the atmosphere of the streets she paints. Light is central to her work and each of the pieces are defined by her ability to depict various scenarios, from the sky’s reflection on wet streets and the evening sun as it casts long shadows to the artificial lighting of the shop fronts and street lights.

Movement of the figure is another constant throughout Cronin’s paintings. She skillfully and elegantly records fleeting impressions of people making their way through town.

In contrast, a number of Hearne’s paintings refer to the absence of activity – evoking a dream-like feeling of solitude, whilst others depict facets of daily life. These works represent a contemporary Dublin while also acknowledging the physical legacy of its past. He visits familiar environs around the city such as the Iveagh Gardens under a grey winter sky, the skeleton of the new Central Bank on North Wall Quay and an empty O’Connell Bridge, each of which entice the viewer to imagine and develop their own narrative.

Throughout Hearne’s work, a common compositional theme is the interrelationship between the horizontal and vertical plain. He captures the contrast between the natural and urban environment, and pays particular attention to the effects of light relative to the season and time of day.

Together, both artists’ individual styles complement each other in offering a comprehensive artistic portrayal of the city. This collection of works will incite a sense of nostalgia in viewers as they are taken on a journey through the streets of Dublin.

The exhibition can be viewed in Gormleys Fine Art, 25 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2, from Thursday 25th June until 18th of July. For Further information visit www.gormleys.ie or telephone the gallery on 01 672 9031.