This new body of work is the result of Shane O’Driscoll’s recent residency in the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. Shane spent last October documenting the city, photographing the shapes and colours in the architecture and objects that resonated with him. A shop front, street signs, lines on a map all play a part in this new visual language. He then created a collection of shapes that formed a visual library to work from, all of which have been incorporated into his compositions for this exhibition. The seemingly mundane acted as ‘open eye signals’, creating abstract compositions that serve as a diary of his time in Paris and mark a new direction in his artwork.

Alongside his fine art prints, Shane has collaborated with West Cork chair maker Alison Ospina, who specialises in sculptural, organic forms made from the natural shapes of the hazel tree. Last year Shane spent time with Alison learning the process of making footstools and a collaboration was born. The union of these two creative art forms has resulted in the first set of traditional chairs that will continue in its exploration of organic and hard edge abstract forms. Shane enjoys pushing the possibilities of where his art can take him and this exciting collaboration has ignited new ideas that are only in their infancy.

Collaboration with other creatives is a regular feature of Shane’s practice and this exhibition also features a rug designed by Shane and made by Ceadogán rugmakers in Wexford. He has worked with Ceadogán for a number of years and continues to explore the process of rug making, playing with elements within the rugs to create sculptural forms.

In July, Shane will return to the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, having recently been awarded a residency by the Olympic Federation of Ireland and will be working with Team Ireland as they take up residence in Paris this summer for the Paris Olympic Games.

Shane O’Driscoll is a Cork based visual artist, graphic designer, curator and art director working primarily in printmaking and mural painting. Shane has work in the permanent collections of The National Gallery of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, Glucksman Museum UCC, and UCD. Shane has exhibited his work internationally and throughout Ireland.