PIGSY’s “First Things Last” solo art exhibition

Over the period 23 - 25 May, I presented my showcase exhibition "First Things Last" in La Casa Amarilla in their Calle Santos Studios.  The work that I exhibited were artpieces that I created while I worked in Art Residency in the La Casa Amarilla Contemporary Art and Culture Centre over the previous 6 weeks. The artworks were themed around the subject of "Interlocked" and examined how seemingly unrelated things are connected.

Exhibition title “First Things Last”

Prior to the exhibition, I explained that the title of the exhibition comes from a variation on a quote in the famed Quentin Tarantino movie Reservoir Dogs, and for me "First Things Last" explains the concept for this art residency and the importance of the creation of art during the period in residency. "In effect I start out with a blank white canvas and then move on to the production stage where I paint on the canvas. The next part of the process is to show the work created in the exhibition at the end. However, this is not the end for the works of art as the very next day after the exhibition finishes I will be painting over all of the works that have not sold or been reserved during the exhibition. I will be re-painting them white which will bring me (lastly) back to the first part of the process. It is a circular process, and it is literally, First Things Last".

Right sizing

Currently I am going through a period of actual physical movement as I travel around Europe. This means that I am not physically tied to one place. Not being tied to one place gives me flexability and fluidity but it also means that I can’t amass things as I am limited in what I can carry as I travel through different countries.

I’ve also made a mind shift and am generally in a period of “right sizing” which means that I am looking at physical things on a need or want basis. My options in regard to the PIGSY artworks are to sell them and have them hanging in homes in order for them to be enjoyed by their collectors. Or I could place the artworks in to storage. If they get placed in to storage they are hidden away, and while this protects their value it means they are not on show and they are not being enjoyed by others. And what is the point of that?!

And so it was on Sunday after the completion of the exhibition that I wrapped up the sold paintings for delivery to their new homes, and then set about painting over the few unreserved pieces in the colour white.  As I completed the process, I felt that it was a beautiful thing and it felt very right and very cathartic.  

Exhibition success

After a successful art residency in LCAmalaga along with an incredible solo exhibition, I now have a clean slate to create more of my exuberant statement artworks with many of the other artworks going on to grace the walls of homes here in Malaga and also some making their way to Ireland!  

A big thanks to Director of La Casa Amarilla David Burbano and Creative Director Roy Laguna who curated this exhibition - I couldn’t have done it without them.

In my next blog I will share pics of the opening night - thanks to all who attending on this evening and over the other days of the exhibition, it was great to talk to you all and I am really grateful for all of the positive comments and engagement with my art. Watch this space for the full report on the exhibition……