All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun

All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun is an exhibition that we, Paul Hallahan and Lee Welch, have curated to explore the nuanced tensions between fundamental dualities that shape both art and life. Inspired by the layered contrasts in Flann O’Brien’s writing—such as rural versus urban, reality versus imagination, and seriousness versus humour—we’ve brought together a diverse group of artists who each engage with these opposing forces in their own distinct ways. Through painting, sculpture, installation and video, the artworks converge on the central theme of duality, examining how these contrasts coexist and often rely on one another.

This exhibition is not just about highlighting oppositions; it’s a meditation on how they are interconnected. For instance, Nina Canell and Genieve Figgis blur the boundaries between the tangible and the imagined, prompting viewers to question where reality ends and imagination begins. Eva Rothschild and Aleana Egan delve into the tension between solidity and fragility, capturing the precariousness of existence. Meanwhile, Samir Mahmood and Mairead O’hEocha offer a layered introspection through their works, mirroring O’Brien’s skill in unraveling the intricacies of human experience. Mahmood’s exploration of identity, migration, and spirituality contrasts with O’hEocha’s contemporary reinterpretations of landscape and the natural world. Both artists deftly balance contrasting elements—Mahmood blending cultural and religious references, and O’hEocha merging the familiar with the estranged—ultimately reflecting the subtle interplay between the personal and the universal.

In All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun, we invite you to reflect on the complexities of existence, illustrating how these dualities, far from being strictly oppositional, are deeply intertwined—each bending towards the other like flowers reaching for the sun.