Breda Kenny

Making a Splash, 2025

Pastel on board

‘This portrait captures my son, Elliott, in a fleeting moment of vulnerability as he rinses soap from his eyes. By obscuring much of his face, I wanted to challenge people’s expectations of portraiture. Rather than seeking a conventional likeness, I was interested in the expressive possibilities of gesture and the tactile qualities of water, soap, and skin. The work reflects my fascination with ordinary moments that reveal the humanity of a subject more truthfully than a posed expression ever could.'

Slaparnach, 2025

Pastal ar chlár

‘Is é mo mhac Elliott atá á léiriú sa phortráid seo. Tá sé leochaileach ar feadh soicind nuair a bhíonn gallúnach á glanadh aige as a shúile. Tríd an gcuid is mó dá aghaidh a cheilt, theastaigh uaim dúshlán tuiscint daoine ar phortráidíocht a thabhairt. Seachas iarracht a dhéanamh gnáthchosúlacht a léiriú, bhí spéis agam sna féidearthachtaí eispriseacha a bhain le gothaí agus cáilíochtaí inláimhsithe uisce, gallúnaí agus craicinn. Is léargas é an saothar seo ar an spéis a chuirim i ngnáthimeachtaí a léiríonn daonnacht suibiachta ar bhealach níos fírinní ná mar a d’fhéadfadh staidiúir eagraithe a léiriú riamh.’

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