Since the first Kilkenny Observer hit the shops of Kilkenny city and county, we have strived, insofar as possible, to cover as much of Kilkenny life as possible. One such area has been our work with the arts community and we have been delighted to allocate many column inches to theatre, music and art.
Over the last couple of issues of this paper we were delighted to profile local artists such as Jeanie McDonald, Eoghan O’Driscoll, and Tia Vellani as well as highlighting artists in the Kilkenny Arts Festival. And this week, we focus our attention on Kilkenny man Ben Lanigan, originally from Kilkenny, now studying art in Belfast.
We first highlighted Ben and his art back in 2018 when he was displaying his work on the Mayor’s walk in Kilkenny during the Arts Festival. In that issue, we described Mr Lanigan’s work as ‘unique and thought provoking,’ advising our readers that ‘there was a lot more to come from this talented artist.’ Well lo and behold our words came through. It was while flicking through the current issue of ‘The Irish Arts Review’ that we noted a page dedicated to Ben. No mean feat, and that’s for certain.
Originally from Kilkenny, Ben moved to Belfast in July 2020 to study fine art at Ulster University.
Both sides of Ben’s family are naturally creative with his grandfather Jack Lanigan known for his amateur dramatics with groups such as the Don Bosco players and the New Theatre group. Jack was also a painter in his spare time and a keen set designer. On Ben’s maternal side of the family his grandfather Jim Cody was well known in the music circle, being one half of the ‘Wetlands Orchestra’.
The following is the text as per The Arts review…
DEGREE SHOW EXHIBITION
Benjamin arrived to study at Belfast School of Art in 2020, and has just completed his Degree Show exhibition for which he received a 1st Class Honours.
His degree show paintings were an interrogation of space and perception, through which he explored imaginary worlds and the concept of liminality – spaces of ambiguity and disorientation. These liminal spaces represent very specific personal experiences and places . His artist’s statement declared: “Painting has been a way for me to navigate issues such as mental health, identity and relationships with other people in my life.”
Underpinning Ben’s painting practice is a quote by David Hockney’s sister Margaret, who once said: “Space is God.” Ben has placed this observation at the heart of his practice, commenting: “I want to convey space as if it is a higher deity, as if I am in search of understanding it. The reading I have done around Hockney clarified a lot for me, particularly when he stated in 2009: ‘When you are looking at one blade of grass, you’re looking…then you see the other blades of grass, seeing more.”
Ben paints things in terms of positive and negative space, which he intends the viewer to stitch together in what he calls an ‘inner and outer’ analysis of his paintings. As well as the work of Hockney, he has studied closely the colour theories of Joseph Albers, of whom he says: “Albers experimented with defining space in a painting through illusionistic use of colour. As painters, we can endeavour to see more with our imagination as much as our eyes. ‘Outer seeing’ involves looking at things as they are, whereas ‘inner seeing’ requires imagination to supplement the outer seen world.”
Ben has made an exciting start to his painting career, and we wish him continued success in his artistic journey. The Kilkenny Observer would like to thank Dougal McKenzie and The Irish Arts Review for permission to use the text and photos.
Dougal McKenzie is a lecturer in Fine Art, Painting, and Freelands Foundation Studio Fellowship coordinator, Belfast School of Art.
