Carin MacCana
3 November to 17 December 2022
28 February to 27 March (in Studio at Uillinn), 28 March to 25 April (at home) 2020
The studio will be open to the public on Thursdays between 2 pm and 4 pm, for viewing, interacting and discussing the work.
The work Carin makes fluctuates between abstract and figurative, depending on the concept. Usually it is large in scale, both in painting and drawing. She is primarily a painter, albeit a restless one. Carin has always been interested in history, philosophy and politics; how the world works and how people navigate their existence in it.
In her painting Carin explores themes such as gender, self-expression and identity. She is interested in notions and perceptions of “masculine” and “feminine” aesthetics. When her work depicts a figure, abstracted or not, it is because the concept has to do with being human. She is not interested in figurative painting per se. Painting a realistic portrait of a particular person or make art that is pretty or pleasing doesn’t appeal to her. Carin prefers the methods of Abstract Expressionist painting; large scale, gestural, expressive colour, expansive, undefined space and shape, visible mark-making and rich texture.
Born in Sweden 1957, Carin moved first to Denmark in 1973 and later in 1982 to Ireland. She trained at The Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen and Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork. She has been painting since 1980 and have exhibited extensively since 1989.
Carin teaches drawing, painting and sculpture on the Art course at West Cork Campus, Cork College Of Commerce in Skibbereen since 1996.
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre's Artist Residency Programme is supported by the Arts Council and Cork County Council.