The exhibition at the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise opened Friday evening 28 January 2011 with an introductory talk by the artist. It runs until 12 February 2011 and features paintings covering the period from 1980 until 2010. Each of the 24 paintings on display features an intimate study of a relative or close friend.
The first thing you notice about these works is the incredible amount of detail. Whether it is the lace on a collar, the chintz pattern on a chair or the stitch perfect reproduction of an infant’s knitted jacket, every minute feature is realised. In a 1982 portrait of the artist’s father two music cassettes can be seen on the mantelpiece. It is possible to read the titles as printed on the spines of the cassette cases. “CHOPIN; THE TWENTY FOUR PRELUDES op.28. CHRSTOPH ESCHENBACH, piano” reads one. Above the mantelpiece is a colour photograph of a family group including the artist, his siblings, parents and grandparents. The crispness of the colour and detail identifies this as a photograph but it is painted within the painting.
Tempera the Key to Detail Realisation
“That illustrates how the use of tempera enables the artist to paint details in a way that would not be possible in oils.” Dunne explains and goes on to describe how he applies fine strokes of transparent paint over a white ground. “There is no white paint used,” he says. “The white is the canvass support.” These techniques were used by classical painters such as Durer and Wyeth
Discussing his relationship with those who sit for his paintings – these have included Ireland’s revered former Taoiseach Eamon De Velera and current President Mary MacAleese as well as family members – he says that he tries to form an intimate relationship so as to enable him to uncover the person within. One of the ways Dunne does this is by surrounding his subjects with objects that illuminate their character. This serves to explain the cassettes and family portrait as well as a copy of the Holy Bible in the portrait of his father.
The Importance of Symbolism
A painting of his wife made soon after they met is a triptych. On her left is a single rose in a simple vase and a copy of Pepys Diary. On the right a candle burns. All three are set against the background of the wallpaper in her parent’s home. He explains the symbolism: “The rose expresses the idea of romance, Pepys Diary her love of history and the candle her habit of lighting candles throughout our home.”
A 1999 3 part canvass depicts six figures in a landscape. Entitled “Lovers on the Rock” it is set at a favourite beauty spot in the Dublin Mountains. In the centre a woman and two children, Dunne’s wife and daughters, sit in profile on a sloping rock. Over on the extreme right a pair of lovers are prone in an embrace. At the left a man with his back to us shields his eyes as he looks out across rolling meadows to distant hills. This, it transpires, is Dunne the artist doing what artists so often do; separating himself from family in order to occupy his own space for a while.
Prints for Sale
Dunne freely admits that the detail in his early work could be deemed fussy and says that he “probably wouldn’t have the patience” to do work like that now. Recently he has begun to explore print making and a corner of the exhibition is devoted to a group of these recent monochrome works, the only ones that are for sale.
Dunne has won many awards in over 30 years of painting. As well as the commissions to paint leading citizens he has worked as a designer and illustrator and produced a number of stamp design sets for the Irish postal service An Post and the Isle of Man Post. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 2010.
Portraits Painted for Charity
At the conclusion of the exhibition on 12 February 2011 Dunne will execute portraits of four individuals who are prepared to pay €50 each for the privilege. The proceeds will be donated to local cancer charity The Cuisle Centre. There is also a draw which visitors to the exhibition can enter for which the prize is a one hour portrait sitting with the artist.
Dunamaise director Louise Donlon believes this is one of the best exhibitions that the Centre has mounted in the 11 years of its existence and it is impossible to disagree. It is a pity that it runs for only two weeks. Anyone who has any interest whatsoever in painting and painters should take the opportunity to see this exhibition.
Frank Parker - Frank writes regularly on a diverse range of subjects which he researches thoroughly.
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