ESSENCES
Image: Bernie Colhoun, Crystal Growth Study 2, 2023, giclee print on paper, 39 x 51cm. Courtesy of the artist.
Murielle Celis and Bernie Colhoun
15 July – 6 August 2023
Curated by Aisling Dunne
Essences brings together the works of Murielle Celis and Bernie Colhoun, two artists whose practices delve into the fundamental nature of existence, transformation and time. Through distinct yet complementary approaches, Celis and Colhoun explore the unseen forces shaping our world, whether in the celestial and organic realms or within the deep geological past. Their works invite viewers to reflect on the origins, evolution and materiality of our surroundings, offering a poetic meditation on the essence of life itself.
Murielle Celis’ practice has long been concerned with themes of divinity, source and primordial energy. Her work in painting and printmaking has evolved into an exploration of tangible forms through her “orbies”—non-functional vessels crafted from locally sourced wild clay. Inspired by an ethereal “orb” captured in a photograph, these pieces are subjected to the ancient firing method of pit-firing, where elements such as fruit peels, copper, and seaweed contribute unpredictable, otherworldly hues to their surfaces. Celis’ orbies oscillate between resembling archeological relics, weathered and timeworn, and celestial bodies, imbued with an ethereal quality akin to distant planets. This theme extends into her monotype prints, where she embraces experimentation and unpredictability. Each print, a unique interplay of ink, texture, and subtraction, mirrors the organic spontaneity found in her three-dimensional works. Her creative process is one of discovery rather than illustration—seeking to find life in her work rather than merely depicting it.
Bernie Colhoun, conversely, approaches the concept of essence through the lens of geologic time, crystallization and human interaction with the earth’s ancient formations. Her Origin series reflects the delicate yet powerful process of crystal multiplication, where extreme conditions generate formations of symmetry and irregularity. Each facet, though appearing identical, is distinctly hand-cut, symbolizing the nuanced individuality within natural repetition. In Deep Time, she submerges discarded watch components in chemical solutions, instigating crystal growth on their surfaces. This poetic act disrupts personal timekeeping devices, highlighting the inexorable progression of geologic time—far beyond human comprehension. Her print series Cores and Kerbstones further examine our relationship with geological materials, drawing inspiration from ancient Irish petroglyphs and the scientific excavation of the earth’s layers. By transforming raw impressions into contemporary prints, Colhoun bridges the past with the present, prompting contemplation on the narratives embedded within stone.
Together, Celis and Colhoun’s works in Essences present a dialogue between the celestial and the terrestrial, the ethereal and the material, the immediate and the infinite. Their practices converge in a shared pursuit of uncovering hidden truths—whether through elemental experimentation, the echoes of deep time, or the ineffable traces of the past. This exhibition offers an invitation to pause, reflect, and engage with the unseen forces that shape both our history and our present moment.
Bernie Colhoun, is a Sligo-based emerging artist, primarily working in print and sculpture, creating abstract, geometric and minimalist works. Initially inspired by mineralogy and its unseen processes during her time working in the jewellery trade, in the years since she has pursued ideas surrounding geologic time and our human interaction with it. Using reclaimed objects where possible is also an important aspect of Colhoun’s practice, elevating waste materials and assigning a sense of permanence to them. Colhoun is a fine art graduate from Crawford College of Art and Design and has exhibited nationally. This year, she has been awarded a residency at Pulled Print Studios in Sligo and has also been invited to be part of the Irish contingent at this year’s Land Art & Reflection Symposium “Staring at the Sea” at Cill Rialaig in Kerry, organised by Pallas Project/Studios.
Murielle Celis studied at the Saint Lucas Higher Institute for Visual Arts in Ghent, Belgium where she was awarded degrees in print-making (1990) and painting (1993). Since 1989, she participated in group exhibitions in Belgium, The Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland, Russia and Canada, and had solo shows in Belgium and Ireland. She moved to Ireland in 1995. Murielle was part of the Sunlight Studios and the Renegade Art Studios, based in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Murielle worked with several international artists amongst others the Belgian artist Hugo De Leener, the Russian painter Boris Schapowalov, the Hungarian artist Peter Foldi and Ciaran Lennon here in Ireland.
