Out Now | May June 2025 issue of The Visual Artists’ News Sheet

VAN May/June 2025 issue includes several timely Member Profiles: 

Joanne Laws interviews Daphne Wright ahead of her solo exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford; Tom Climent outlines the evolution of his painting practice and his recent exhibition at CCI Paris; and Joseph Young discusses his doctoral research outputs, including a sound trail and vinyl record.

For the Irish Art History column, Michael Holly outlines his research on the life and work of Belgian artist Lily Van Oost. From the Archives republishes a column about an NCAD protest in 1989, written by Áine Phillips (then, President of NCAD Students Union) and first published in the SSI Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1989.

Among other feature articles, Thomas Pool interviews the EVA Platform Commission artists developing new work for the 41st edition of EVA International; Josephine Kelliher reflects on the practice of Michael Kane; Leah Corbett and Emily Waszak discuss their participation in ‘Urgencies’ at CCA Derry~Londonderry; and Venus Patel reports on ‘Screenings at The Curve’ – an event by Irish Artists’ Film Index at VAI’s Dublin Office. 

Reviewed in VAN May/June Critique section are: ‘Kunstkammer’ at Lismore Castle Arts; ‘History of the Present’ at Golden Thread Gallery; ‘The Shape of Memory’ at Graphic Studio Gallery; Daniel Tuomey at Ormston House; and Rich Gilligan at Draíocht Arts Centre. 

 

On The Cover 

Tom Climent, Helios, 2018, [detail], oil, plaster, and sand on canvas, 153 x 183 cm; photograph by Jörg Köster, courtesy of the artist and Solomon Fine Art.

First Pages 

6. Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months.

Columns 

9. Old Records. Cornelius Browne revisits a series of paintings chronicled in his diary as a young artist. 

Lily of the Valley. Michael Holly outlines his research on the life and work of Belgian artist Lily Van Oost.

10. NCAD Student Protest. A column by Áine Phillips, first published in the SSI Newsletter in 1989, outlines a protest by NCAD Students Union.

Archiving Oneself. Eve Parnell outlines some advice for artists on how to organise their personal archives. 

11. Courting Inspiration. Aoibheann Greenan discusses the root of creative ideas and how artists can cultivate them. 

Crisis /Death /Resurrection. Jane Humphries reports on an MTU painting symposium held at Triskel Arts Centre in March.

Member Profile

12. Deep-Rooted Things. Joanne Laws interviews Daphne Wright ahead of her solo exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
13. Sonic Hauntings. Joseph Young outlines recent doctoral research outputs including a sound trail and vinyl record.
14. État Sauvage. Tom Climent outlines the evolution of his painting practice and his recent exhibition at CCI Paris.

Festival / Biennial

16. Thomas Pool interviews the EVA Platform Commission Artists.

Critique

19. Maria Fusco and Margaret Salmon, History of the Present, 2023.
20. ‘Kunstkammer’ at Lismore Castle Arts
21. ‘History of the Present’ at Golden Thread Gallery
22. ‘The Shape of Memory’ at Graphic Studio Gallery
23. Daniel Tuomey at Ormston House 
24. Rich Gilligan at Draíocht Arts Centre  

Exhibition Profile

30. On Television, Beckett. Antonia Held reviews a recent exhibition at Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart in Germany.
31. An Urban Atmosphere. Josephine Kelliher reflects on the practice of Michael Kane.
32. Problems of To-day. Leah Corbett discusses her artwork, recently presented at CCA Derry~Londonderry.

Pliable Planes. Emily Waszak outlines her participation in ‘Urgencies’ at CCA Derry~Londonderry.

Organisation Profile:

34. PhotoIreland. PhotoIreland announce the International Centre for the Image.

VAI Events

35. Mapping Stories. Marianne O’Kane Boal outlines a recent mentorship programme for ten Mayo-based artists.
36. Screenings at The Curve. Venus Patel reports on a screening event by Irish Artists’ Film Index at VAI headquarters. 

Last Pages 

37. VAI Lifelong Learning. Upcoming VAI Helpdesks, cafés, and webinars.