Conor Harrington Back in Ireland 28 June 2011

Conor Harrington is one of the most ambitious and open artists to emerge from Ireland in recent years, with a deep respect for urban street and art culture. The good news is that he is back in Ireland and has already been painting in the capital last weekend. The great people at ANewSpace covered Conor Harrington‘s beautiful painting in Temple Bar in Dublin city centre and by all accounts it was an incredible spectical. Read more here »

The renowned street artist will also be taking part in the Ennis Street Festival, painting another original piece on the Glór building this coming Friday, July 1st.

Conor is originally from Cork, but is currently based in London. His work is an incredibly successful collusion between ‘fine’ art and ‘street’ techniques. According to Conor himself, central to his oil canvasses is “the male figure, referring to the masculinity of urban culture”. The men in Conor‘s paintings allude to the not necessarily heroic, but stoic and pensive male of the modernist painters; however the pieces are plastered with post-modern graffito flourishes in a pertinent clash of styles – “I’m interested in the dynamics between opposing elements” says the artist. Whilst both the male figures and abstract elements of the work are, with out doubt, contemporary, the emotions they transmit are timeless, if currently under-rated – dignity, courage and a quiet sense of duty to oneself and those around us. At a time when men are accused of being somehow redundant within society Conor‘s work is an intelligent and modest reminder of their positive emotional contribution. It also shows that graff doesn’t have to shock – or be soppy – to have substance.

The Clare Youth Service Music Project will be providing a musical backdrop to Conor‘s painting on the day, showcasing some of the young talent amongst the local DJs, producers and rappers in the Clare area. There will also be a breakdancing showcase by Cork based crew The Rhythm Rebels, hosts of the recent Livestylez festival. The Rhythm Rebels are Munster’s most active breakdancing group, taking part in national and international showcases and competitions and acting as one of the main promoters of hiphop culture in Ireland. This event will take place outside the Glór building and will allow the audience to sample both the audio and visual experience of street culture being presented.

The evening’s entertainment is free and open to people of all ages, and in keeping with all CYS events, will be a drug and alcohol free environment.

The event will run from 4pm until 8pm outside Glór, Ennis.

Conor Says Boom! »
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