Outflow

Outflow | Galway International Arts Festival

Evgenia Martirosyan | Ronnie Hughes
Curated by Stephan Roche

Evgenyia Martirosyan’s current body of work stems from her interest in modern science and philosophy and represents an intuitive response to concepts of time, matter, chaos and transformation. The latest developments in science are raising many philosophical questions and are revealing something about the nature of reality that might elude purely scientific explanation. Working with elemental materials and using a broad range of techniques, she explores the poetic possibilities of the fluid and constantly shifting state of things. Martirosyan investigates materials and effects that have a problematic or hesitant quality: ice (frost), water, air, light and foam. Transient organic matter is framed and contrasted by structures made out of rigid materials like metal and plastic. The artist uses repurposed industrial mechanisms, such as refrigeration and compression units, to activate the work initiating processes of growth and change. Evgeniya Martirosyan has been awarded the Tactic/Sample Studios Graduate Residency and the National Sculpture Factory Graduate Residency 2016/2017. She has also be awarded the Eli Lilly Purchase prize, Lavit Gallery Fledglings exhibition award and Cork Film Centre exhibition award. 

Ronnie Hughes’ is one of Ireland’s leading abstract artists. His paintings and drawings demonstrate his interest in corrupting grids, energy fields and patterns to set up an expectation, and then thwart it somehow. Hughes seeks to arrest the work at a tenuous moment and likes when the work seems to hover on the brink of collapse – like chaos has been temporarily held in check, a main theme throughout his vast body of work. Born in Belfast in 1965, Ronnie Hughes studied at the University of Ulster, receiving an MA in Fine Art in 1989. Hughes is now based in Sligo, has had numerous solo exhibitions throughout Ireland, and has participated in group exhibitions worldwide. He has received several awards including a one-year residency in New York (PS1, 1990) and three-month residencies at Banff Arts Centre, Canada (1994) and Bemis Arts Centre, Nebraska (1997). Represented by the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, his work is held in many public and corporate collections including both Irish Arts Councils and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. 

Stephan Roche is a freelance Curator and practising Fine Artist from Limerick and based in Galway. With a BA in Fine Art Painting and MA in The History of Art and Architecture he has worked in various roles including the Education Dept. at The Hunt Museum Limerick, as an Exhibitions Assistant for Galway Arts Centre, Acting Curator of Renmore Barracks Military Museum Galway, and was recently Chair of the Board of Directors at 126 Artist Run Gallery.

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