19/11/2025
Wonderful work by Pauline Conroy. Amazingly creative.
Pauline Conroy, a local West Cork artist and one of our artist in residency paints with fabric. This unique method of making art was created by her after following sewing classes, which made her look at fabrics in an entirely different way. It wasn’t something to just create clothes with, instead it was something to be used in her artistic practice. Using fabric scraps, this interesting new approach relies on layering different colour scraps to create depth in the artwork.
One of the artworks created during her residency is related to the folklore of the Merrow, a creature similar to mermaids and mermen. Merrow men were said to be hideous and out of bitterness for their appearance would capture the souls of drowned sailors. Whenever someone drowned near the coast, the blame would be cast on the merrow men.
Conroy depicts one such merrow man tangled in fishnets stranded on the coast. Humans have taken revenge on the creature responsible for all the grief it caused. The inclusion of fishnets, made out of crocheted thread, is meant as commentary on overfishing and the effect humans have on the climate. Conroy herself implements this commentary in the majority of her work by painting with fabric scraps that otherwise would be discarded.
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Cork County Council Cork County Arts
