Marie Le Men

Seán Hillen, 2023

Watercolour on paper | Unframed: 40 x 33 cm; Framed: 50 x 40 cm

‘Last spring, I had the privilege to be invited by Seán to paint his portrait in his light-filled Dublin studio. At first, overwhelmed by the jungle of boxes and cables that reached to the ceilings, I jotted down observations, collecting clues in the decor and in our conversation: toy soldiers, stray cats, Diane, a broken clock, Beckett, Joyce, gurus, and thousands of postcards. I chose watercolour for its lightness and transparency and tried to convey a sense of Seán’s deep-rooted rebellious streak and unshakable optimism.’ 

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