Touch of Gold: The Semiotic Perception of Gold in Modern and Contemporary Art with a Focus on the Work of Susan Collis
Lorna Murphy
Subject: Sculpture
10,000 words
This dissertation investigates the use of perception of gold in modern and contemporary art. There will also be an exploration of the use of craft and making within several of these art objects. While there will be a consideration of other artists, this discussion will be focused on the contemporary artwork of Susan Collis. Comparisons will be made with the use of gold in the work of artists such as Luciano Fabro, Gordon Matta-Clark, Jeff Koons, Philippa Lawrence and Patrick Scott.
Would you like Art with That? The Commodification of Art in Hotels and Restaurants
Eavan Murphy
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
With no literature on the nature of art in the hospitality industry, this dissertation aims to highlight this unexplored area. Given that it is such a popular phenomenon today, there is a need to initiate research as to why art is being integrated in these spaces. This study aims to highlight the role art has in these environments. In particular, the reasoning behind the investment and how it creates a new type of space will be assessed. This work examines the role art has for the consumer and how it is commodified to enhance the experience of the consumer and to cater for a society hungry for high-culture and luxury. An attempt will also be made to see why hotel and restaurant owners are investing in art and what benefits it brings to their brand and business. The channel the fusion of these industries has opened up for artists has also been addressed.
The Peasantry and the Intelligentsia in Russian Nineteenth Century Portatiture
William A. Murphy
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
The aim of this dissertation is to account for the dominance of realist painting in 19th century Russia, and to examine the importance of portratiure within this development. The portraitists’ selection of peasants and intelligentsia (writers, musicians, patrons, critics) as favoured subjects is examined, together with the artists’ quest for a native Russian art. Historical context is provided. The course from classicism to realism is traced through the works of Kiprensky and Tropinin, and much more....
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Mimi Murphy-O'Connor
Subject: Sculpture
10,000 words
This dissertation explores the work of Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. The study examines the development of his work and examines to what extent he may be considered as being avant-garde. The art-historical importance of Pomodoro is discussed and special attention is given to his work in Trinity College, Dublin. After outlining the life and works of the artist, the author discusses the artistic context in which Pomodoro emerged as a leading figure. Technical aspects of Pomodoro's works are discussed and an entire chapter is devoted to the Sphere in Trinity College. The final chapter analyses the artist's more recent visionary and architectural projects and the appendix includes a lengthy conversion with the artist.
Encaustic Portraiture To Portray the Icon and the Idol
Alexandra Murray
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
This thesis will examine the use of the encaustic techniques’ celestial luminosity and the translucent quality of wax to portray life like and majestic flesh tones in portraiture. The icons and idols portrayed in ancient encaustic through their sacred and devotional purposes and ethereal skin tones convey a monumentality and spirituality. The objective is to decipher whether the revival of encaustic portraiture continues the theme of sanctifying figures through the malleable and crystalline nature of the wax. An attempt will also be made to analyse and access the progressions and developments in contemporary encaustic portraiture. This thesis will examine works in encaustic prior to 7th century as well as the revival of this medium in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Virtual Reality Art 1992-2002
Clara Murray
Subject: Installation and Technology
10,000 words
This dissertation will examine art which uses virtual reality technology as a historical phenomenon of the period 1992-2002. It will look at the influence of preceding and contemporary theories of virtual reality on artists’ approach to the medium The impact the unique aspects of the medium itself had on the form and content of the artworks produced will also be discussed. In particular, this thesis will explore the use of the body as a theme and/or motif in so many virtual reality works of this period. Artists mentioned include Char Davies, Jeffrey Shaw, Maurice Benayoun and Simon Penny.
Contemporary Figuration in Ireland: An Exploration of the Work of James Hanley
Grace Murray-Cavanagh
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
This dissertation examines the oeuvre thus far of contemporary Irish figurative painter and portraitist James Hanley. The author explores Hanley's thematic preoccupations as well as his stylistic evolution as an artist. The study approaches Hanley's art by looking in detail at three key works - 'The Would-Be's' (1995), 'Portrait of Ronnie Delaney' (2000), and 'Grand Tourist' (1997) - considering their thematic concerns in the context of his broader oeuvre and tracing the artist's stylistic evolution. The author also considers the importance of external factors on Hanley's career and their impact on his art. The study examines the circumstances of Hanley's artistic education; the unusual prominence of the male in his work; the artist's approach to his craft; and notions of the national and the artist-as-critic. Hanley is also considered in the context of contemporary art and criticism in Ireland. Appendices include interviews with the artist and with art writer/critic Brian Fallon.
The Transformation & Reception of the Late Works of Artemisia
Mollie Myles
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
Object, Image, Place. The Serpentine Gallery Pavilions & the Architecture of Spectacle
David Luke Naessens
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
This dissertation concerns the Serpentine Gallery Pavilions which are temporary structures erected each Summer on the gallery lawn. At this date, there have been twelve projects, eleven of which were built. The pavilions will be placed within a historical tradition of structures of which the visual is the principal function as well as the contemporary context of architectural spectacle. The thesis will explore the debate surrounding the contemporary context, using the pavilions as case studies which demonstrate how architects respond to current conditions. Finally, several alternative strands of contemporary architectural thought will be introduced and the ways in which the pavilions visually elaborate or reject these theories will be examined.
The Blessed Virgin in Irish Visual Culture 1940-1960: The Evolution of the Marian Image in Modern Irish Painting of the mid-20th Century
Tania Naidoo
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
This dissertation explores the development of Marian Imagery in modern Irish painting from 1940-1960. The aim of this dissertation is to identify the significance of the Virgin Mary in modern Irish art, and so whilst some account of ecclesiastical art is pertinent, it is important to distinguish that this dissertation is not concerned to a great extent with the number of nature works commissioned by the Catholic Church, so much as those works featuring depictions of the Madonna that were executed by independent artists, and subsequently went into private or public collections. The time frame that has been chosen is reflective of a period of great social and cultural change both within Ireland and in Europe. In the first chapter I will give an overview of the role of Catholicism in Irish society, and the general state of Irish art.
Sir William Chambers and the Enlightenment
Kenzo Nakakoji
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
This dissertation examines the theory and practice of the architect Sir WIlliam Chambers through the lens of the Enlightenment in England and France. The study explores the means by which Chambers managed to balance his role as a major figure in English architecture with his his highly critical, if broadly receptive, rationalist approach to architectural theory. The author charts Chambers' architectural education and development from his early commitment to a theoretical approach to architecture during a period of study under Blondel in Paris and traces the development and application of theory throughout the architect's career while locating his work in the context of the Enlightenment. Chamber's 'A Treatise on the Decorative Part of Civil Architecture', his established aesthetic philosophy, and his work at Somerset House are all considered in detail.
What Did the Pilgrims Learn: A Study of the 12th Century Pilgrimage Churches Along the Le Puy Route in France.
Emma Newman
Subject: Architecture and Sculpture
10,000 words
This theses is concerned with the pilgrimage route of the Via Podiensis to Santiago de Compostela in Spain which began at the city of Le-Puyen- Velay in France. The Cathedral Notre Dame-le-Puy was the first cathedral along the route chosen by pilgrims who followed the route to Santiago de Compostela. Other pilgrimage sites such as the abbey churches of St Foy at Conques and St Pierre de Moissac are case studies in this thesis. Conques in particular, was among the most popular shrines in 12th century France and was a much favoured destinations of pilgrims. It had a number of religuaries and an important tympanum depicting the Last Judgement. In terms of religious symbolism and narrative, both Conques and Moissac demonstrate the role of art during this period as the ‘bible for the illiterate’.
The Cathedral of St. Patrick’s, Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Mairead Ní Chonghaile
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on the Rock of Cashel, is overlooked by the Romanesque building of Cormac’s Chapel, on the same site. This study attempts to redress the balance, through an examination of the structure of the building. Each area of the building is measured and the main features described. Anomalies and problems of interpretation are thoroughly investigated. Possible solutions to the issues arising are posited. A reconstruction of the phases of construction is then attempted.
Clare Langan: The Fragility of Authorship
Aoife Ni Dhubhain
Subject: Film Art / Art Theory
10,000 words
This dissertation examines issues of authorship in the context of new media artforms, takings as its case study the work of Irish artist Clare Langan and focusing in particular on her trilogy of films including 'Forty Below', 'Too Dark For Night', and 'Glass Hour'. The author investigates the creative processes that define the artist's work, the problem of authorship in a mechanical medium, as well as the question of collaboration and its implications for authorship in the production, presentation and interpretation of film art. Ideas of 'Auteur Theory' are explored in terms of both commercial film and film art. Appendices include interviews with the artist and with the Director of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Patrick T. Murphy.
Branding Dublin: ‘Starchitects’ negotiating city identity
Sorcha Ní Lideadha
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
This dissertation investigates the presence of the architectural phenomenon of ‘starchitecture’ in Dublin City since 1996. The broad cultural factors which have led to this trend will be discussed. This is based on economic and sociological sources which provide the reason for its popularity amongst elite architects and city officials. Through the analysis of previously uncollected primary material, an account is formed of the various built and unbuilt projects that have been by ‘star’ architects for the city over the past fifteen years. Finally, an evaluation is conducted of the capacity of such international designs to engage with the particular place-identity of a city such as Dublin.
Traditional Irish Music in Art: Examining Identity and Nationalism
Sabhbh Ni Mhaolagain
Subject: Various
10,000 words
This dissertation aims to highlight the themes of nationalism in order to identify the extent to which traditional Irish music can create this. It is achieved by a growing sense of identity by looking at the examples ranging from the 19th century to the 21st century. The growing sense of identity in Ireland will be discussed with a brief introduction to traditional music. Depictions of traditional music in art of the 19th century revealed how artists focused on the picturesque view of Ireland. A growing sense nationalism and identity through art will be explored. The research discovered that Irish music as a subject in art is linked to both identity and nationalism and can be utilised according to the current affairs at the time as well as the needs of an artist.
Images of Constantine: A History of the iconography of the Horse Riding figure in 12th century Irish
Amy Ni Mhurchu
Subject: Sculpture
10,000 words
This thesis examines the possibility whether images of the Roman Emperor Constantine influenced Irish Equestrian figures of the 12th century. The author considers six examples of Irish equestrian sculptures of the Romanesque period and the ensuing analysis follows such headings as location, description and content while also tracing the idea of the horse and rider being used as an analogy of high status and triumphal power back to classical Roman times. Detailed drawings are made by the author and further consideration is given to Irish Romanesque sculpture in the context of traditional insular styles, Pictish art and Roman/Early Christian imagerty and French sculpture.
The Development of Architectural Preservation and Conservation in Practice in Ireland following the Influence of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Áine Ní Mhurchú
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
Picasso and Ireland Analysing the Exposure to, and Reception of, Picasso in Ireland and his Influences on Irish artists
Nuala Ni Shuilleabhain
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
This dissertation examines how Pablo Picasso was disseminated into Ireland, how the public came to be aware of his art and his consequent impact on Irish artists through two case studies. Picasso was active during a period of great turmoil and social change in Ireland and his work, and the work his contemporaries, was eventually enthusiastically received by an audience so ripe for change. The Irish public and many Irish artists were exposed to his work through a number of significant exhibitions held throughout the twentieth century which celebrated his and and the work of his contemporaries. This dissertation examines which exhibitions his work was included in, and what the response to these exhibitions was.
The Role of Picturesque Drawing in Architecture
Eimear Nic Caba
Subject: Architecture
10,000 words
Architectural discourse often portrays the picturesque drawing as merely representational or a means to an end despite the concepts conveyed and sensations they evoke. The picturesque drawing draws attention to the value of experience in both the external and internal world. This study endeavours to examine, describe and articulate the nuances of the relationship between the architect, drawing and architecture and its role in the formation of ideas. The picturesque drawing varies in subject from the macro-view-like image to the micro- textual image. Through the work of Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto and Aldo Rossi, the picturesque drawing will be explored as an expression of this interwoven phenomena and the value of it in architecture.
Gerard Dillon and his Connemara works : Not exactly what they say on the tin
Laura Nic Fhlannchaidh
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
This dissertation discusses the work of Gerard Dillon, a Belfast born artist, who until recently, has had very little scholarship written about him and his works. In an attempt to add to the present scholarship, I have focused my research on two primary concerns which are discernible in his Connemara works. These are his use of traditional imagery associated with the West of Ireland and national ideologies, and the homoerotic elements imbued in many of his works. In discussing both these topics, I hope to illustrate the layers of meaning in Dillon’s works throughout the chapters, and to encourage the reader to revisit Dillon’s Connemara scenes with a fresh understanding of what he/she may have originally viewed as a cliched west of Ireland scene.
We History - Narratives of contemporary life in the exhibition of 20th century art in the National Gallery of Ireland
Niamh Nic Ghabhann
Subject: Painting, exhibitions
10,000 words
This dissertation examines the exhibition of 20th century Irish art in the Millennium Wing in the NGI. The exhibition is examined as a contemporary installation, which is formed with constituent parts (individual works of art) from the first part of the 20th century. The work of post-colonial theorists provides the paradigm through which these issues are discussed. The first section of this dissertation is a detailed study of the professed aims of this exhibition, the selection process, and the way in which the paintings are organised. The second part of this study provides a deconstruction of the hang, and the narratives of 20th century Ireland which are constructed, The final section of this work provides an analysis of the constructed cultural narrative, facilitated by post-colonial theory.
Here’s Looking at you Grayson Perry: An Analysis of his Exhibition: Who Are You? from a Perspective Concerning the nature of Identity
Jillian Nicholson
Subject: Ceramics, Prints and Mixed Media
10,000 words
The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the exhibition ‘Grayson Perry: Who Are You?.This was staged at the National Portrait Gallery in London (25 October 2014-15 March, 2015) and focused on themes of identity. Like any investigation, the aim is to establish a simple, explanatory, coherent body of information that explores as much of the topic as possible. Identity is evident throughout Grayson Perry’s work. Not only does he identify himself, but he also fabricates the identifies of others based on certain aspects of their lives. These considerations will be investigated in depth through use of examples prior to the show, but also not excluding the fourteen pieces from ‘Grayson Perry: Who Are You?’ exhibition.
The Development of Flower Painting: Eighteenth-century Dutch and Edo Rimpa Art
Richi Nishimura
Subject: Painting
10,000 words
Flowers have attracted many painters both in the West and East with their organic beauty. Yet the visual representations greatly vary, according to cultures and due to its simplicity as a subject, a genre of flower painting seems to pose developmental challenges to artists.This dissertation is aimed to examine different cultural attitudes towards flowers shown in artworks and subsequent artistic developments of this subject, focusing on eighteenth-century Dutch and nineteenth-century Japanese Edo Rimpa art as exemplary cases. As cultural enthusiasts for flowers, the Dutch and Japanese both engaged with the production of flower paintings in the early modern era.