PORTALS and PILGRIMS                           

Clancy delves into the path of time and memory—a visual odyssey that transcends the boundaries between the seen and the unseen. Here, the ghosts of the past emerge, lingering like whispers and inviting introspection into the interconnected layers of existence. Influenced by Irish and Icelandic locations, her work speaks to the lure of the unknown and the construct of the remote. The paintings become portals, not only into the external landscapes but also into the recesses of the mind. The echoes of voyages and the imprints of ancestral tales coalesce into a palimpsest of layered landscapes.

Living on the coast of Co. Waterford, the sea connects her to the wider Atlantic and entices her to investigate experiences of seafaring islanders from both a personal and historical perspective. Interest in these themes and narratives have developed from experiencing artist residencies in rural Iceland and Ireland. 

Clancy’s process begins with immersion in the landscape; walking, recording, sketching, taking photographs and sea swimming. Further research develops from reading nature writing, social history, folklore and archeology. Paintings stem out of sketchbook notes, drawings and collages. The artworks in Portals and Pilgrims include oil paintings on gesso-primed birch ply, each thin layer of paint is manipulated by partially eroding the surface with sandpaper, blocking out areas with masking fluid and then further layering. Works on paper are created with watercolour and Indian ink, the spots and lacunae of visual interference are made using a method inspired by batik textile production. The wall reliefs are watercolour on rag-based paper; the constructed fragile islands evoke votive offerings, the relics of pilgrimage and the strata of time.

The exhibition is accompanied by an essay by Cristín Leach. This exhibition has been funded by The Arts Council and ArtLinks.