For the RE:issues exhibition, we invited 10 artists to explore the themes of timelessness, connection, culture, and album art. Scroll to read about what inspired them and find details about the works.
Roky Erickson Live at The Ice Cream Social
Digital Print, €350 Framed
In late 1965, at age 18, Erickson co-founded the 13th Floor Elevators. In 1969, Erickson was arrested for possession of a single marijuana joint in Austin. Facing a potential ten-year incarceration, Erickson pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to avoid prison. He was first sent to the Austin State Hospital. After several escapes, he was sent to the Rusk State Hospital in Rusk, Texas, where he was subjected to more electroconvulsive therapy and
Thorazine treatments, ultimately remaining in custody until 1972. In 1974, after having been released from the state hospital, Erickson formed a new band who exchanged the psychedelic sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators for a more hard rock sound that featured lyrics on old horror film and science fiction themes. His songs had titles like
Red Temple Prayer, Don’t Shake Me Lucifer, Creature With The Atom Brain and Night Of The Vampire. Erickson died in Austin on May 31, 2019
I had the opportunity to catch him live at a regular yearly gig he played at SXSW in Austin, Texas. On this occasion he was joined onstage by Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. This design, which incorporates elements of his psychedelic and hard rock directions, is an imagined cover for a non-released live recording of that gig. Both the design and photography are mine.
Rock Steady
Photography, €100
The idea of the exhibition inspired me to think of the band No Doubt. Tragic Kingdom was the first cassette that I would play on repeat when just a teenager, Side A, Side B, Side A, Side B, Side A and so on. Rock Steady was on my first CD from the band- the second track has a rough riff that anyone can headbang at, the title? Hella good! And this is the first visual queue in the song.
The Right to Everything
4 Colour Risograph Print of Digital Collage; Unframed edition of 20; €30 each
I am a part-time image maker, mainly focusing on drawing and collage work, taking inspiration from fashion, vintage magazines, retro kitsch and TV. I am drawn to gaudy imagery and colour and I try to translate this into my work, I am more than a little partial to a bit of neon pink.
The image is inspired by Eurythmics 1987 concept album Savage, probably my favourite album ever.
Recognition: A Re-enactment
Digital Reproduction of an Etching and aquatint; €150 Unframed
“…this image was actually made for an album cover…this inevitably inspired a rummage in my record collection…for some covers I would cite as influencial…”
Alternate Abba
Digital Art: Framed €150
For me ABBA represents my awakening into not just classic pop and disco but music itself. My Mam’s side of my family have always been ABBA obsessed and so it was natural for me to share that love from an early age. From watching clips of their Eurovision win to seeing Mamma Mia on the West End to listening to them everyday in the car, I have such a nostalgia for their music.
My piece looks at how ABBA have never really strayed from their true selves, never giving into changes in the evolution of music and yet they have this timeless quality about them.
I decided to imagine what an ABBA album would look like if they did decide to go down another path at one stage. I feel like in an alternate universe, a Glam Rock album would definitely exist so obviously I took inspiration from KISS and David Bowie but also tried to emulate ABBA’s own style.
The result is a ridiculous image consisting of the members of the band that we know so well in a completely new light. Personally I think there’s still time for an ABBA genre change.
Orange
Digital Art: Framed €100
I went with Channel Orange by Frank Ocean as you can see, as it was a monumental album for me at the time especially as it was the catalyst for him coming out around the same time I was realising I was bi. The original cover is super minimal so I thought I’d do a maximalist version and show the rich world and stories inside the album. Each thing on the cover represents one of the 17 tracks so it was a lot of fun to make!
OK Computer
Digital print: Framed €150
Inspired by the track ‘Paranoid Android’ and it’s reference to gluttonous consumerism – “Gucci Piggy” has been captured in this illustrated work. The visual language has also been inspired by Magnus Carlsson who directed the animated video for the track.
In Your Mind
Collaged record sleeve; Framed, €300
This piece is from a series of works entitled, “I’ll be your mirror”, where I reformatted and collaged old record sleeves to create new narratives from the original cover designs. This work was made from 3 sleeves, partly or mostly Bryan Ferry, part from Irish folk rock band; Busy Making Progress, and part from a sleeve from a French chanteuse who’s name I regretfully can’t recall.
Lighthouse
Textiles (Hand Embroidery); Framed, €195
The connection to the lyrics and the outpouring of raw emotions on the album Singles by Future Islands, is something that I’ve never felt before with any album. The struggles, hurt and reflection in the lyrics is portrayed in such an honest way by Samuel T. Herring, and it resonates so strongly with me, and reflects so many of the themes of my work that I found myself creating this piece while listening to the album and letting it flow into the work. The song Lighthouse is a stand out when I listen to the album, the thoughtful journey the song takes from one of despair and hurt to something that is slightly better and brighter, is a constant reminder to me that even the darkest moments can have hope. This is the same feeling I get through the process of stitching, which is slow, considered, repetitive and thoughtful. During this time I am left with my own thoughts and the time to process them in the flow of making. The piece was constructed using repetitive hand piercing, rhythmic mark marking and stitch to illustrate patterns. Traditionally stitch is used to mend and repair but in this instance the act of mending works towards an emotional repair.
The Quarrymen
Digital Illustration; Framed, €140
The Quarry Men : A Visual Reworking of Slint’s Spiderland.
From the very first time I heard Spiderland, I was drawn into its eerie musical landscape. The LP’s 6 tracks were full of mystery, complex instrumentation layered with hushed vocals that were at times almost inaudible. I had never heard anything like it before, and by the time I had; the band had split years previously. What they left us with was this enigmatic artefact, a record cover with a stark black and white photograph of four young men who didn’t quite fit the bill. Could these normal looking guys really have created this otherworldly music? The rest of the packaging revealed little more to the listener, other than a one-time search for a female singer (the floating presence of Polly Jean Harvey). More than 25 years since Slint’s second and final album came into my life, it’s beautifully foreboding music and imagery still haunt me in the nicest possible way.
