Graduate Residency No.1

UPDATE: Nicholas Dolan – Statement of Work

Please see previous post for info on exhibition opening times and dates.

Nicholas Dolan is a Dublin based artist recently graduated from D.I.T. He uses film, product design and sculpture in a critical reflection on the socialising effect of legislation and its capacity to produce a docile electorate. Found and scripted scenarios combined with futile products are used in an attempt to betray the etiquette demanded by design.

In ‘ Sand Tapping’ Dolan emulates the sculpture buskers in Dublin city to highlight the proposed reform to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010 on begging .The amendment will make begging illegal within 10 metres of ATMs, business, vending machines or residencies. In response to the proposed amendment a sand sculpture of a beggar is made at the foot of an ATM.  According to Dermot Ahern these are the places    and the distance within which “ people feel vulnerable in the presence of strangers.”

The impact of material culture and its insidious ability to mould how the world is perceived and negotiated has been the principal influence in Dolan’ s work for the last couple of years. In ‘ Shelmet’ Dolan proposes an alternative to the amendment by presenting the user with a product to help them feel secure in the presence of homeless people. ‘ The Snail’ is worn and a 10 metre exclusion zone is marked around a beggar.

By implementing these actions in familiar environments, Dolan attempts to reveal a little of the blinding obvious.

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Graduate Residency No.1

10 Metres

A solo exhibition of work by Nicholas Dolan,

Curated by Nicky Teegan and Sandra McAllister

Opening reception December 2nd (6pm – 8pm)

Exhibition continues December 3rd – 5th (12am – 5pm)

Ormond Studios is pleased to present 10 Metres, an exhibition by Nicholas Dolan as part of the Ormond Studios Graduate Programme, which provides a platform for graduate artists to develop their practice and explore the ideas surrounding it. The selected artists from IADT, NCAD, DIT and Crawford participate in a month long residency which culminates in a solo show at Ormond Studios.

Nicholas Dolan is a Dublin based artist recently graduated from D.I.T. He uses film, product design and sculpture in a critical reflection on legislation and its capacity to produce a docile electorate. Dolan’s show 10 Metres is an enquiry into the new proposed reform to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010 on begging that will prohibit begging within 10 metres of ATMs, businesses, vending machines and residencies.  According to Minister Dermot Ahern these places are where ‘people feel vulnerable in the presence of strangers’. The Bill highlights begging as ‘an unacceptable public nuisance that cannot be accepted or excused on any social or economic grounds.’

During Dolan’s residency he has examined this new proposed legislation by implementing a series of interventions to emphasises the absurdity of this strategy. Using the central location of Ormond Studios, Dolan implements methodologies which involves his observation and engagement of this environment.

Dolan’s recent exhibitions include ‘Free for All’ at The Back Loft Studios 2008, ‘Flock’ at Broadstone XL 2009 and ‘Vale Tudo’ at D.I.T 2010. In 2007 he completed a two month residency at The Pisac Art Centre in Peru, he has also completed a six month apprentice at the Harmon Sculpture Foundry in Vancouver. For the
past five years Dolan has worked at Cast Art foundry in Dublin.

The Ormond Studios Graduate Programme was made possible by the members of Ormond Studios and the financial support of The Arts Council.

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Graduate Residency No.1

Nicholas Dolan commenced his residency on Monday the 1st of November.  His Solo Show entitled 10 Metres will take place on December 2nd 6pm – 8pm in Ormond Studios.  For more information please visit:

Our Exhibitions page https://ormondstudios.wordpress.com/exhibitions/

& our Facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134469839941123

We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

Nicholas Dolan (DIT)

Tree Cavity.

 

 

Tree Cavity, installation view.

 

 

 

Nicholas Dolan is a Dublin based artist who recently graduated from D.I.T. He uses film, product design and sculpture in a critical reflection on the socialising effect of our encounters with everyday products. In an attempt to explore consumer culture, the principle of product functionality is scrutinised. Using found objects and fictional narratives his work often results in absurd scenarios, allowing for familiar yet ambiguous engagement.

Recent exhibitions include ‘Free for All’ at The Back Loft Studios 2008, ‘Flock’ at Broadstone XL 2009 and ‘Vale Tudo’ at D.I.T 2010. In 2007 he completed a two month residency at The Pisac Art Centre in Peru, he has also completed a six month apprentice at the Harmon Sculpture Foundry in Vancouver. For the past five years he has worked at Cast Art foundry in Dublin.