PIGSY "Homecoming" in Ireland's Homes Interiors & Living / by PIGSY

Patrick O’Herlihy writes about PIGSY’s “Homecoming” in Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living

After spending a year painting in Malaga, I was delighted that my homecoming to Ireland was featured in “Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living”. Edited by Margaret Connolly, it is Ireland’s largest selling interiors magazine for 26 years.

Ciarán McCoy is an architect by day, and an artist by night, painting under his alter-ego name “PIGSY”. Ciarán quit his day job, left Dublin for Malaga and took the plunge into full-time painting. Patrick O’Herlihy caught up with him for a chat prio…

“Homecoming” - a two page spread with editorial by Patrick O’Herlihy

“PIGSY” is photographed by Pablo Asenjo in his studio in Malaga City Centre in the La Casa Amarilla Gallery. He is surrounded by his neo-expressionist artworks that he created while in Spain.

“PIGSY” is photographed by Pablo Asenjo in his studio in Malaga City Centre in the La Casa Amarilla Gallery. He is surrounded by his neo-expressionist artworks that he created while in Spain.

The featured PIGSY art work is “I’ve Given Enough” which is an enquiry into the sport of bullfighting and within the painting the bull, the main protagonist, is armed with a gun in it’s mouth in order to level an unequal scenario and to allow the bull have enough force to exert a win in what PIGSY believes is an unfair fight. He explains that comparisons can be drawn between society now being armed with a vaccine which will bring about an end to the pandemic.

The featured PIGSY art work is “I’ve Given Enough” which is an enquiry into the sport of bullfighting and within the painting the bull, the main protagonist, is armed with a gun in it’s mouth in order to level an unequal scenario and to allow the bull have enough force to exert a win in what PIGSY believes is an unfair fight. He explains that comparisons can be drawn between society now being armed with a vaccine which will bring about an end to the pandemic.

Artist PIGSY in his Spanish art studio wearing a Fontaines DC t-shirt that has the logo “Life ain’t always empty” on the front.

Malaga is such a culturally diverse city, were you able to immerse yourselves with other artists?

My gradual improvement in speaking Spanish took me out of isolation and it also created opportunities, particularly when it came to collaborating with other artists and creative people in the studio of La Casa Amarilla, Sometimes I found I was shari…

Tell us about your month-long solo art exhibition in March 2021

I created a focal point for the exhibition -what I called my “altar if art”. My painting “de-facto leader” was hung as the centrepiece of the exhibition. It was positioned on the main wall of the gallery and was set slightly proud of the backdrop ma…
The PIGSY bull painting “I’ve Given Enough” - now on display in Calle Alcazabilla in Malaga as part of the Off Yellow Summer group exhibition by La Casa Amarilla for Estival Art Festival in Malaga, supported by the City of Malaga and with sponsorshi…
All the works shown in my Malaga Art Exhibition were painted in Spain. I was very influenced and inspired by my surroundings. I also used very vibrant colors that I had never painted with before.

Were you always planning on coming back to Ireland?

It’s always hard to leave a country as beautiful as Spain. I’ll be missing the morning churros and coffee soon enough and the weather of course. But it was time. I know I will be back in Spain once travel is allowable. I plan to fly back for my next…

Do you consider the year to be a success?

Success can be defined in so many different ways. From a cultural perspective, a linguistic perspective, and perhaps the most important the perspective of the evolution of my painting, yes, it was a success. It was a very, very special for my wife E…

What’s next?

Next up is an exhibition in Kenmare, Co Kerry. It is in a space called the Kenmare Butter Market. It’s a beautiful new venue in the heart of Kenmare. I also plan to compile a book of my art studies which will be a first for me. I love firsts - they …

Featured painting “I’ve Given Enough” is available from La Casa Amarilla Gallery in Malaga - contact Gallery Director David Burbano in La Casa Amarilla here for further information.

See the PIGSY website for further press and interviews with PIGSY.