Prudence and the Game of Golf is a new suite of works by artist Abigail O’Brien RHA. The third exploration of The Natural Virtues to which Temperance, 2009 and Fortitude, 2005 contributed the opening chapters; Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. These are the hinges on which moral virtues were said to depend; “they govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our con- duct according to faith and reason”. The virtues can be achieved through human effort – they are therefore valid, attainable and worthy.

“Sport is uniquely human. It is civilised war, an accept- able arena to bare one’s teeth.” Grayson Perry, The Descent of Man.

This new series, Prudence and the Game of Golf, combines photography and sculpture into a moulded environment exploring themes that transcend an eighteen-hole game of golf.

Abigail O’Brien RHA’s work employs many media including photography, sculpture, video, sound and hand-made embroidered objects. O’Brien’s work explores themes such as ritual, rites of passage and the domestic realm. Solo exhibitions include; With Bread, Limerick City Gallery, The Dock, Carrick-On-Shannon, The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, Airfix Days, The Peppercanister Gallery, Dublin, Temperance, RHA, Galerie Bugdahn und Kaimer, Düsseldorf and Letterkenny Municipal Arts Centre, Donegal. Selected group shows include; Bristle, Hair and Hegemony, The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, Gut Instinct, Art, Food and Feeling, The Glucksman Gallery, University College Cork, Jardin, Kunstraumlangenloise, Austria and she is a regular contributor to the RHA Annual Exhibition. O’Brien’s work is in private and public collections including, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, The Caldic Collection, Rotterdam, The Museum of Modern Art, Vienna, The Gemeentmuseum, Holland and Centro National des Artes, Mexico and she has been receipt of many awards including Arts Council of Ireland Touring Award, 2013, Arts Council of Ireland Travel Bursary, 2013/2014.

Born in 1957, she received her MA Fine Art Painting from The National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1998. O’Brien is a member of The Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin since 2010 and the current Secretary. Abigail O’Brien lives and works in Ireland.

www.abigailobrien.com