Carmel Madigan

Carmel was born and grew up by the edge of the Atlantic Ocean on the Loophead Peninsula, Co. Clare. She now resides and work out of my studio near Ennis, Co Clare This was a simple and beautiful upbringing, where she climbed the wet slippy rocks, slid down the cliff side and became aware that she was wedged between the beautiful Brandon mountains on the South Side and the Great Galway Bay and Aran Islands (which could only be seen on clear days) to the North. Everything else, including roads only lead east! The air was freshly blown in from the ocean and was crisp and clean, but sometimes the stormy seas were nothing short of scary as they lashed the high cliffs and beached stones and debris and lakes of salt water onto the family's farm.

Studied for an Honours degree in Business at the University of Limerick between 1979 and 1983. Upon graduation, worked in various Multinational Companies including Burlington Industries Ireland and the telecommunications Company Tellabs Ltd before departing in 1994 to set up a Graphic Design Company -Designer Print- serving the Mid West Region. Carmel's final move into the professional art world came in 2000 achieving a lifelong dream.

Carmel believes that it was this early simple way of living, that now influences her art. Entirely self-taught, she stives to simplify the complicated, because her youth was exposed to so much fragmentation - unstructured sculptural beauty by naturally formed rocks and bridges, caves and stony beaches - all carved by the callous movements and grindings of the vast ocean. Indeed, the processess employed by Carmel in the execution of her work bear striking resemblance to those used by the ocean - the heavy dependence on vast volumes of water to deploy and flow the paint in an unstructured manner bears witness to this notion.

For the most part, Carmels themes revolve around nature - natural spaces - natural gardens - untouched by human hands - places of seclusion and isolation of peace and solitude. Carmel describes these landscapes as 'vague' 'barren' landscapes - barren alluding in the most part to the lack of 'trees' - this is because no trees survive in the Loophead Peninsula - it is 'open' 'unsheltered' and the great forces of nature take the greater control of it's destiny. Carmel paints a different picture of this scape in Summer, when the area becomes ablaze with vibrant wild flowers such as mombresia, acramony, honeysuckle to mention but a few.

Carmels other subject areas rotate between the philosophical, historical & historical artifacts and the energetic beauty of the flower (as inspired by her mothers great love of summer gardening in this wild beauty spot - where her exotic species thrived, and were a total exception to the country side and drawing the attention and admiration of every passerby and visitor to the area!).

Although Carmel is driven by simple forces, her eye often seeks and is excited by high density textures, with infinite swirling impastos, rich vibrant colours - almost like a modern day 'celt'.

She strives to experiment, to explore, to use materials in a different way than their intended use, to be uncontrolled and insecure, to make suggestions, observations and to be absolutely passionate about the joy of a simple creative mind.

Studied for an Honours degree in Business at the University of Limerick between 1979 and 1983. Upon graduation, worked in various Multinational Companies including Burlington Industries Ireland and the telecommunications Company Tellabs Ltd before departing in 1994 to set up a Graphic Design Company -Designer Print- serving the Mid West Region. Carmel's final move into the professional art world came in 2000 achieving a lifelong dream.

Freedom Blossoms

No boundary shall restrain your flourish,
for you will elegantly sway your petals beyond,
be undisturbed, if a little inconvenienced
by the walls and wires that strive to hold you
in 'your' place -
but, you have the freedom of the Universe,
There are no laws prohibiting your random flourish,
your fertile beauty,
you may conquer, enthrall, mesmerize -
Freedom Blossoms!

©C.T. Madigan

Artist Information Sheet:

The following is a listing of exhibitions and events since 2004

2004	'Fragments and Formations' Solo Mixed media exhibition at De Valera Library, Ennis and The Bridge Mill Gallery, Galway City. May-June
2004	'Tribal Banners' Juried Group Travelling Exhibition between artists from three counties - Clare, Galway and Limerick - July August
2005	Art in the West - Large organized event with national and International artists at Leisureland, Salthill, Galway. June.
2005	Selected to Exhibit at the Greystones Arts Festival, Co. Wicklow. August
2005	'Escape' Solo Exhibition consisting of 38 new works at the Duane Gallery, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Oct.
2005	Killarney Wine and Art Evening - Nov
2005	Feature in 'Upstairs Downstairs' Magazine - Sept-Oct issue
2006	Cork Mental Health Association - Solo Exhibition at Hayfield Manor Hotel - March Donated 30% of sales.
2006	Art Ireland - RDS Dublin - March/April
2006	'Forces of Nature' Exhibition - part of a large exhibition at the Cockleshell Art Gallery, Duncannon, Co. Wexford - May/June
2006	'Grupo Batik Art XXXiii Annual Exhibition' at Sala Barna, Barcelona, by invitation - 12 works exhibited May/June
2006	Selected to Exhibit at Greystones Arts Festival, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. August.
2006	'Symphony Movements from the Edge' Solo Exhibition at Lahinch Art Gallery, Co. Clare consisting of 44 new works. Oct.- Nov.
2006	Art Ireland - RDS Dublin - November
2006	Killarney Wine and Art Evening - Nov.
2007	Art Ireland - RDS Dublin March/April
2007	Cork City Hall - Unveiling 'Emperors New Plans' and 'Chi Landscapes' Series
2007	Radisson SAS Galway City - October 2007
2007	Killarney Wine and Art Eve - Malton Hotel - November

Corporate Clients /Collections 2006/2007

Bank of Ireland - Corporate Art Collection - Dublin
Department of Defence - Dublin
Quality Hotel - Limerick
Ross Hotel - Killarney
Invesco Ltd - Dublin
Celtic Ireland Finance - Limerick
Dromoland Castle - Newmarket -on - Fergus, Co. Clare