Curios About: Uncertain Arrival by Stephen Shaw

Uncertain Arrival
By Stephen Shaw
Acrylic on canvas, 70cm x 60cm

1. This work is about . . . first experiences of Dublin and trying to get from A to B. I moved to Dublin from Derry in 2012 and spent much of my first few weeks getting lost. In this painting, I got lost walking in Dublin, trying to find the tram stop and this is what the city looked like to me. Now which direction should I be going? As a daily commuter and regular public transport user there are always levels of uncertainty in when and how I will arrive.

2. I made this work because . . . I am starting to explore urban scenes more and more, especially the ordinary and the everyday. My previous works are inspired by the light, colour and mood of Irish landscapes and their ever-changing scenes. Most of my work is an exploration of places I know well: the city streets of Derry and Dublin, or the coastal areas of Inishowen and beyond.

3. I hope when people see this work they will . . . be encouraged to see beauty in quotidian places in the city and aspects of their surroundings that they wouldn’t normally pay attention to, be it people, landscapes, the urban, the suburban, the rural or just daily routines. Everyday is ordinary, until it isn’t.

4. In terms of art history, this work . . . I think I have impressionistic and at times expressionistic style of painting. My paintings vary in style depending on my mood, my experiences and the places I visit. I work a lot from photos that I have taken while I am out and about, and always have a small compact in my bag as well as my camera phone as you never know when something can pop up and give you an idea.

5. You can see my work . . . I am organising and exhibiting in a group exhibition on 3 August at In-spire Galerie on Lower Gardiner Street. You can see more of my work on my website and my Facebook page.

“Curios About …” [sic] is a series featuring works by Dublin artists. Each artist is asked to submit an image of one work and answer a set of questions about it. We’d love it if you’d submit something you’ve made, here.