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Eimear Kavanagh

My paintings reflect an individual perception of Indian culture. Having travelled throughout parts of India I have become guided by the ideas, customs and art of Asian society. These journeys have helped to develop my relationship with India in a visual and spiritual sense and have dramatically swayed the direction of my artwork. The importance of these travels has been to enhance my knowledge of the subject of Indian culture, to bring me to where I am with my work today. 

In my most recent trip I was captured by the little towns of the Shekhawati Region of northern Rajasthan - the sensations experienced in the desert, the dusty and dry conditions of the road, the sandy hues and clear blue skies, silence and nothingness - what seemed to have no beginning and no end - the surprise meeting with nomadic tribes, human presence within the desert, a dazzling effect of bright theatrical print designs celebrating the colour of costume and festival.

My aims are to re-create the atmospheres experienced in India. Pattern and texture are my main interests and my collection is contemporary and dynamic, colourful and diverse. My choice of themes and colours are all in some way, symbolic of Indian culture.

Working in mixed media, each painting is produced by first placing layer upon layer of tissue paper to create an interesting background texture. This is then built up with tiny delicate pieces of metallic card, mirrors, inks, gouache paints and finally varnishes to complete a unique, finely crafted and original piece of work.  Many of the intricate pieces of paper used in collage were collected in India such as newspaper cuttings and the use of the tiny mirrors has been adopted from the villagers in rural Rajasthan.

Education
2004 Kensington & Chelsea College London
LOCN Printmaking
1995 – 1998 Bretton Hall ( University of Leeds)
BA Honours Degree Textiles & Surface Pattern Design