Nothing & The Quandary of Painting were created at a time when my ideas about art were in flux, no-thing, not being and nothingness reference ideas around identity, value and relevance.


I needed to make art nothing so that I could rebuild my ideas about what was or was not art, this included the idea of myself as an artist. The work became a commentary on identity politics and branding. I realized that anything could be art, including found objects and my identity. I embraced the idea of the expanded field and a multidisciplinary approach to making art. I had to test the boundaries. This work opened the door to all my subsequent work, thoughts and projects. For example, in 1998 I held a Studio Sale of all my work to date, I catalogued, listed, priced and labelled everything from sketches and notebooks to large completed paintings. In 1999 I created an unbound visual book The Quandary of Painting-A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks this was an unbound visual book with four chapters: Representation?; The Grid (Failed Representation?); History Possibility? and Nothing. It consisted mainly of drawings in the form of notes, photographs, photocopies and collaged postcards. This work explored ideas for the making of artworks, some were realised, some were not and some are still being realised. These and other works of the time are documented here.

Nothing
1999
T-shirts, hat, fleece jacket, silver identity necklace, jewellery box, embroidered name tags
Variable
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Nothing / identity necklace
1999
Silver identity necklace
6 cm wide
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Nothing / identity necklace
1999
Silver identity necklace, jewellery box
6 cm wide
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Nothing
1999
T-shirt, embroidered name tag
Variable
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Nothing / t-shirts
1999
T-shirts, embroidered name tags
Variable
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Nothing / hat
1999
Hat, embroidered name tag
Variable
This work was a commentary on identity politics and branding.
Now and Forever
1999
Art book, plinth, brass plaque
40 x 40 x 96 cm
The Art Book represents art history in a non-hierarchical fashion, using the alphabet as its modus operandi. This and the fact that all the illustrations are the same size creates a timeless, placeless space for art to exist.
Now and Forever / detail
1999
Inscribed brass plaque
3.5 x 18 cm
The Art Book represents art history in a non-hierarchical fashion, using the alphabet as its modus operandi. This and the fact that all the illustrations are the same size creates a timeless, placeless space for art to exist.
A day in the country
1999
Found painting, poster, postcards, fridge magnet, astro turf, photograph frame, wood-chip wall paper, stretchers, household paint, acrylic paint, mdf boards
Variable
This work was a play on associations and representation.
Green Light
1999
Astro turf, stretcher
63 x 47 cm
This is a reference to my earlier oil on canvas on board works and a play on association and representation. The astroturf represents nature.
Untitled
1999
Found postcards, photographs
16 x 52 cm
This work was a play on associations and representation.
Portfolio
1999
Photographs, photocopies of photographs, black paper, text
90 x 126 cm
Here I was experimenting with the idea that the documentation of work could become an artwork. The representation of a representation......
Studio Sale / flyer / installation view
1998
Printed flyer
30 x 21 cm (ea)
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / flyer
1998
Printed flyer
21 x 30 cm
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / flyer
1998
Printed flyer
21 x 30 cm
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / computer
1998
Computer, desk, flyers, labels
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale
1998
Studio view
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / paintings
1998
Oil on canvas, prints, acrylic on paper, labels
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / paintings
1998
Oil on canvas, acrylic on paper, labels
Top row various, middle row 30 x 41 cm (ea), bottom row 24 x 30 cm (ea)
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / portfolios
1998
Mixed media, portfolios, labels
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / portfolios
1998
Mixed media, portfolios, labels
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / portfolio label
1998
Mixed media, portfolio, label
Variable
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / listed and labeled paintings
1998
Oil on canvas, labels, wrapping paper
30 x 41 cm (ea)
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
Studio Sale / documentation of work listed and labeled
1998
Slides, labels
35 mm
My entire works up to this point were listed, catalogued, priced and labelled. Exhibited as part of Art Trail 1998.
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks
1999 - 2001
Pen on paper, photographs, photocopies, text, postcards, black and white paper
30 x 21 cm, 110 pages
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' this was an unbound visual book with four chapters: Representation? The Grid (Failed Representation?), History Possibility? and Nothing. This work explored ideas for the making of artworks, some were realised, some were not and some are still being realised.
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998 - 2001
Photograph, pen on paper
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' a photograph of a shadow theatre juxtaposed with text reading Title - Description or Subject / Description of Subject / Name of Artist / Title as Artist etc. from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' text exploring the idea of creating an exhibition, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
2001
Photographs
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' photographs from the National Gallery in Berlin, photographs of people looking at artworks, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Collaged postcard
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' collaged postcard from the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Collaged postcard
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' collaged postcard from the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Collaged postcard
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' collaged postcard from the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Collaged postcards
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' collaged postcards from the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Collaged postcard
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' collaged postcard from the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm (ea)
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Story of a Painting using a monochrome painting and a painting of text, framed by mirrors, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' drawing of a found charity shop painting A Winters Day / This is Not a Winters Day, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' drawing of a found charity shop painting A Winters Day / This is Not a Winters Day, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Any Time Any Place an abstract painting using different types of paint on a single canvas, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Any Time Any Place an interlocking abstract painting using different types of paint on a single canvas, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Any Time Any Place a layered abstract painting using different types of paint on a single canvas, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' top Sky Piece a monochrome painting and below an abstract installation using different types of paint on various boards, with associations to the sky, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Water Piece two monochrome paintings and an installation using different types of paint on various boards, with associations to water, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Visual Language / Word Association, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Fragmented Landscapes, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' The Tragic Failure and Absurdity of Representation in Painting, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Landscape after J. Constable, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
2001
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Abstract / Fragmented Landscape after J. Constable as an installation using different types of paint on various canvases and boards, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Fragmented Matisse, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm

Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Painting as Art Space from, chapter 2 The Grid-Failed Representation?

A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm

Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Shell, Bark, Sea Swirl, Coral, Waves, Waterfall using embossed wallpapers and a brass plaque, from chapter 2 The Grid-Failed Representation?

A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Illusion Light Piece an installation for a darkened room, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1998
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Arranged for Understanding drawing from a photograph of a stairway in the London underground, from chapter 1 Representation?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Now and Forever The Art Book, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' The Art of Painting painted text of the list of artists names from The Art Book, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Postcard, pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Imaginary, Symbolic, Real choose a large portrait from the collection of the Crawford Art Gallery and hang it upside-down, from chapter 3 History Possibility?
A Practical Handbook for the Making of Artworks / detail
1999
Pen on paper
30 x 21 cm
Also titled 'The Quandary of Painting' Artists Help Line an advertisement placed in the Evening Echo newspaper, from chapter 4 Nothing.