Press
Cicra, Art Magazine, David Lunney: Chrome Dreams
Opening reception: 6–8pm Thursday 5th April 2018
Exhibition runs: 12–6pm Thursday 5th – Saturday 14th April
Gallery open: Thursday–Saturday
Pallas Projects/Studios are pleased to present David Lunney—Chrome Dreams the first exhibition of our 2018 Artist-Initiated Projects programme.
"What Chrome Dreams really was, was a sketch that [David] Briggs drew of a grille and front of a '55 Chrysler, and if you turned it on its end, it was this beautiful chick... I called it Chrome Dreams."
—Neil Young
Chrome Dreams begins with a sculpture which is based around a sheet of ArtGlass™. This completely clear glass acts an invisible platform for a variety of reflective elements. This portable sculpture was brought to a forest in Ballyedmonduff (Dublin Mountains) where it was photographed in a variety of positions. Two of these photographs have been rendered as drawings. These strange and complex drawings are always the goal of this process; in a sense of reverse-engineering the imagery from the initial sculpture.
David Lunney’s artistic practice involves the undertaking of protracted art processes. Typically, these processes start with the construction of site-specific or portable sculptural works in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. These sculptures are generally created less for their inherent value but rather to provide photographic source material for documentary artworks. The resulting documentary artworks can take the form of prints, drawings or photographs. These images are rendered, framed and presented in a fashion which intentionally obscures and embellishes the original object and moment that they represent. In these artworks, it is often the relationship between representational imagery and its surrounding abstract visual information which infers the process and concept behind the work. The works have a self-contained narrative; the concept and the material process are intrinsically linked in the artworks discussion of it’s provenance.
In Chrome Dreams, which shows new work from late 2017 and early 2018, Lunney has expanded the complexity of the work, both in process and execution. This can be seen most clearly in the Things Twice at Drumnadober series and in the new, eponymous project. Chrome Dreams is an extension of the ongoing Things made for drawing project which uses handheld reflective sculptures, photography, drawing and other media to create process-driven artworks about the Dublin Mountains. In addition an important influence on this exhibition has been the artist’s work as a picture framer, which has allowed him to tailor-make unique frames and devices.
——
David Lunney is an emerging visual artist based in Dublin. His practice is process-led, in the making of any given work he uses a wide variety of materials and media. He is currently working in Talbot Studios. He uses The Dublin Mountains both as his main source material and guerrilla sculpture garden.
He has had solo shows in The LAB Gallery, Eight Gallery and Droichead Arts Centre. He has recently participated in shows in The Dock, RUA RED, Catalyst Arts, LACE Los Angeles and 126 Gallery.
——
Artist-Initiated Projects at Pallas Projects/Studios is an open-submission, annual gallery programme of 12 x 2-week exhibitions taking place between April and November 2018, in the context of a gallery space with a dedicated tradition towards the professional development of artists in a peer-led, supportive environment. This unique programme of funded, artist-initiated projects selected via open call is highly accessible to artists, with a focus on early career, emerging artists and recent graduates. Projects are supplemented with artists' talks, texts, workshops or performances, and gallery visits by colleges and local schools.
Artist-Initiated Projects aims to act as an incubator for early careers, and support artists' practices at crucial stages, providing a platform for artists to produce and exhibit challenging work across all art forms. The model of short-run exhibitions with a relatively short turnaround time of 3–6 months is an alternative to the normal institutional model, where the process of studio visit to exhibition can take several years. Shorter lead-in times allow the programme to be quick and responsive, reflect what artists are currently making, and encourage experimentation and risk-taking.
Pallas Projects/Studios Artist-Initiated Projects is supported by The Arts Council
Full Artist-Initiated Projects programme
Installation images photography: David Lunney ©2018