The Author of Unusual Papers
Diana Caramaschi - Monica Flynn - Colleen Lambe - Susan Thomson
May 27 - June 25 2011
Following several months of group discussions a body of work is emerging in response to this text, of the same title, by Susan Thomson. In the text Thomson self-reflexively examines her identity as an author and questions whether or not she is the author of the text, using forensic linguistics and stylometry to attempt to answer the question.
Caramaschi, Flynn and Lambe have each used the text as a launching point from which to explore their own concerns researching and exploring, in their own distinctive ways, systems which attempt to analyse identity, meaning and the human psyche. The emerging works, as the title suggests, are predominantly paper based and employ drawing as primal language, visual system and research tool.
Diana Caramaschi is preoccupied with the question who am I today? Her personal investigations fell on a parallel line with Susan Thomson’s text, taking as her starting point Rita Carter’s book titled Multiplicity, which examines the concept of multiple personalities within the individual. These personalities defined by Carter as Major and Minor are conceived as part of a normal daily function of the brain in order to adjust, survive and relate to other people and situations. In the book, Carter illustrates the Major and Minor personalities within the human psyche in loose vaguely circular shapes. Employing and testing Carter’s theory Caramaschi has embarked on process of drawing and painting, within a circle, everyday, for a month. With this she hopes to reveal, the disparity of her daily personalities. The accumulation of drawings, produced one-per-day providing an opportunity to compare, find similarity or perhaps obsession and repetition, within her coexisting personalities. At the end of the month the drawings used t make an animation. The animation brings the time-based quality of the daily drawing process, narrating the layers that exist underneath each finished drawing.
Monica Flynn's response to Thomson's thinking on authorship has been to consider notions of an authentic self, the self in earliest childhood when according to Jung the ego as an aspect of the psyche is still at one with the self, in a state of wholeness and potentiality. As part of this project she has chosen to make portraits of her fellow artists at a young age exploring multiple drawing styles to suggest more than one artist's hand. The source material for these drawings are family photographs, in drawing from them she hopes to examine and reveal gestures or expressions of herself and her fellow artists as naive ‘selves’. Selves as yet unformed by experience and unencumbered by self awareness or the need to perform as personae.
Colleen Lambe’s response to Thomson’s text is based on her practice of deciphering visually based analogical systems. In this new work she attempts to decipher the given text using the philosophy of semiology, her experience as a socially engaged arts practitioner, and personal memories. Drawing on a rich source of semiotic material researched and inspired from these areas, she engages the work through a layering process of additive and subtractive means. Colour, tone and line create a visually abstract and ambiguous language that elicits several readings from the viewer.
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Biographies
Claire Behan is an artist and curator based in Dublin City. Behan’s recent work is informed and led by current theories guiding research on reminiscence, and the implications of viewing it as a type of autobiographical memory. She is currently developing work in audio, film, photography and sculptural installation, which embrace collaboration, negotation and co-production. Her interests as both artist and curator lie in exploring and developing strategies for engagement with distinct communities, endeavouring to explore their individual and collective histories and social environs. Behan graduated from D.I.T. with a BA in Sculpture (2000) and an MA in Visual Art Practices from IADT (2007). She is co-director and co-founder of The Market Studios, Dublin and curator of its programmed exhibition space UNIT H. She is currently researching and developing a large-scale participatory project I don’t want to eat alone (I want to eat in Utopia with you and you and you…) as part of an ongoing collaboration with artist Jennie Guy, The Red Stables Summer Programme, Dublin City Council. Their recently enacted project, Souvenir, took place at No Soul For Sale, Tate Modern. Other recent projects and presentations include: There is a Light That Never Goes Out commissioned by D.L.R. Co. Council; Food For Thought, Restokash; NamaRama (curator), Unit H, The Market Studios and In conversation with Anita Delaney, Studios Seminar at TBG&S. Other independent projects have included working with other local artist led galleries and larger scale projects for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council. www.themarketstudios.com
Diana Caramaschi’s practice is based on a multimedia approach where the subject of study dictates the medium, galvanizing a process of ongoing research and learning. For the last few years she has been making work that explores a theory of ‘The Third Language’. This proposes a simultaneous experience of two concepts in order to explore a state of ‘in-betweeness’ both unconscious and conscious. Her ongoing research aims to visually interpret existing theories within popular culture. Originally from Italy Diana Caramaschi has been exhibiting and practicing as a visual artist in Ireland since 2002. Diana completed her M.A. in Visual Art Practices in 2007 at IADT. Some recent exhibitions include: MY SPACE, A Breaking Ground Commission project curated by Cecilia Moore, National College of Ireland, IFSC Dublin; 100 EXPERIMENTS, Vintage Week & Arts Festival, Birr Union Workhouse, curated by Eilis Lavelle, Co.Offaly; ‘Revisiting’ TBG&S STUDIO 6, part of the MA Visual Art Practices, IADT, Dun Laoghaire; a Solo exhibition at St. Johns Theatre, Listowel, Co.Kerry; ‘How the land lies’ Solo exhibition at Crow Gallery, Dublin; Group exhibition at Art Ireland with the Nine Moons Arts Association, RDS, Dublin; Wicklow County Arts Office, NATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITION, selected by Pauline Cummins; EV+A Fringe Event, selected by Brighdin Farren & Emma Teck, Dowdarragh Hse, Limerick and VIA, selected by Sally Timmons. www.dianacaramaschi.com
Monica Flynn is a visual artist and writer based in Dublin. She often adopts an engaged approach to research, employing interviews and other consultative methods to examine site or involve others in answering questions. She is interested in the slippage between so-called ‘common’ and expert knowledge where vernacular narratives interact with or contradict those of history, science and the media. She works in a variety of media including collaborative text and installation. Monica has an MA Visual Arts Practices from IADT 2007. She occasionally writes responses to other artists’ works and has contributed to Circa Online and The Visual Artists News Sheet. In 2007 she co-founded The Market Studios with curators Claire Behan and Deirdre Morrissey where she continues as a board member. Recent group shows include: NamaRama, The Market Studios (2011) curated by Claire Behan, Deirdre Morrissey & Sally O’Brien; Nativity, The Market Studios (2009); 3 Days “Le��” in 1 Room, exhibition of MAVis alumni, Studio 6, TBGS, Dublin (2008), curated by Cleo Fagan, Caroline Cowley & Claire Behan; VISIT 2008, two-person show with Sarah O’Neill, curated by Claire Behan, The Market Studios (2008); Our Shared Existence at Ard Bia Gallery, Galway ( 2007) curated by Cleo Fagan and The Salon Show at the Original Print Gallery, Dublin (2007). Monica also works as Education Officer with Visual Artists Ireland. She is currently involved in a collaborative curatorial project which will focus on the markets area of Dublin. www.monicaflynn.com
Colleen Lambe is a visual artist, arts in health practitioner and community arts educator based in Dublin. Lambe’s art making practice works closely with the philosophy of semiology which aims to investigate visual signifiers within a political and geographical context. Her practice also encompasses participatory and socially engaged ideals. Lambe works in drawing, photography and clay works. In 2007 she graduated with an MA in Visual Arts Practices IADT, 2005 Higher Diploma in Community, Arts and Education NCAD, and 2002 B.A Hons in Fine Art DIT. She has participated in several solo and group shows which include Co. Kildare Newspaper project (2009-2010) funded by Kildare County Council Arts Office, Public/Private exhibition (curator and participant) in the Red Stables and St. Anne’s Park, Raheny (2008) funded by Dublin City Council, As Built Drawings curated by Eillis Lavelle, funded by Wicklow County Arts Office. Lambe held a three year studio residency (2006-2009) in Dublin City Council’s The Red Stables Studios. Susan Thomson’s practice is trans-disciplinary, revolving around writing. She is particularly interested in the area where visual art and literature meet, whether in text based art, art criticism, conceptual literature or in film.
Susan Thomson has exhibited video, film and writing work at venues including the UK National Review of Live Art, ‘No Soul for Sale’ in the Tate Modern, London and in X Initiative, New York; at HDFEST Film Festival Portland, Oregon and the International Video Art festivals of Alcoi and Valencia, Spain. She holds a Masters in European Literature from Magdalen College, Oxford University and an MA in Visual Arts Practices from IADT, Dublin. She has received a number of Visual Arts bursaries, including an Arts Council New Work Award, a South Dublin County Council Award and a Culture Ireland Award. She has writen for many publications including Circa, The Times and Women’s News. www.susanthomson.co.uk
