In a society of competing voices Chimeric Agonism offers two artists’ responses to the dilemma of subjectivity and embodiment. The exhibition arises out of a significant body of new work for both Cormac Browne and Ciara McMahon, following a year of intensive research – in both theory and art practice – by the artists as part of the Art in the Contemporary World masters program at the National College of Art and Design.

Cormac Browne’s work Untitled, 7 (contest) maintains a concern with contradictory and incongruous elements of social and subjective realities. Using performance, video and sound, this work explores the direct physical manifestations that music and the voice can create within the ‘subject’. This exhibition is the practical response to research around democracy and its accommodation of a multiplicity of voices.

The written outcome of this body of research, the statement, will also have a practical iteration in the form of a performance, Untitled, 20, on Friday 14 January at 6.30pm, at The Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Tce, Dublin 2. This event will be open to the public, but booking is required.

Ciara McMahon‘s work, Leaky Self Project discusses the long term adjustments to lifestyle and attitude to self that heart/lung transplantation demands. Made in collaboration and conversation with the Living Gift Transplant Support group the Leaky Self Project is a site specific filmic installation, a web presence (livinggift.ie/leaky-self/) and an ephemeral, conversational event in Dublin cafés.

McMahon trained in both fine art practice and medicine. Her art work is frequently collaborative and realized through performative, participatory works, digital media and site specific installation. The Leaky Self project is funded by the Arts Council through the artist in the community scheme, managed by Create, the National Development Agency for Collaborative Arts. McMahon will exhibit Liminality at NCAD Gallery in February 2011 as continued development of this body of work.

The exhibition is accompanied by a limited-edition publication with commissioned texts by Emma Dwyer, Rebecca O’Dwyer and Kathy Tynan. The publication will be available at the exhibition

For booking/further information contact Cormac or Ciara at: chimericagonism@gmail.com