TU Dublin MA Fine Art Graduate Exhibition “Waystation” Opens at The Complex, Dublin

Published: 24 Oct, 2024

The highly anticipated graduate exhibition Waystation, presented by the MA Fine Art students at TU Dublin, will open tomorrow, 25 October, at The Complex Gallery in Dublin’s Smithfield. This innovative exhibition showcases the work of five emerging artists and represents a unique moment in their creative journey.

The five artists, Claire O’Hagan, Kat Lalor, Aideen Farrell, Ger O’Brien, and Eden Munroe, have collaborated closely on the exhibition with Complex curator Mark O’Gorman. Waystation moves beyond the conventions of traditional degree shows, offering an immersive experience where cross-contamination of ideas and artistic worlds intersect.

Waystation refers to a temporary stopping point, a moment of reflection before moving forward. In this sense, the exhibition is an evolving process, where the artists’ work pauses briefly before continuing its trajectory in the wider world. Each artist brings their unique perspective, creating a dynamic fluid space where viewers are invited to explore speculative pasts and possible futures.

The exhibition uses archival and storeroom display methods, reflecting the processes of gathering, preserving, and contextualising knowledge.In doing so, the artists examine disrupted temporalities, queer fictions, and moments of transition. The Complex Gallery, once a warehouse, becomes a place where these narratives unfold, inviting audiences to engage in collaborative world-building.

Speaking about the show, artist Ger O’Brien commented, “I like the title ‘Waystation’ because it has the sense of something that could be two things at once. On one hand a waystation is a stopping point, while on the other it is a place on the way to somewhere else.” Fellow artist Kat Lalor added, “The complex itself also plays into this theme. It has a feeling of a preserved building, it hasn’t been forced into fitting any kind of ‘white cube’ aesthetic.”

The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, 25 October, with a reception from 6-8pm at The Complex Gallery, 21 Arran St E, Smithfield, Dublin 7. It will run from 26 October to 2 November.

The MA Fine Art at TU Dublin is a rigorous, studio-based programme based on the Grangegorman Campus that spans twelve months. Students benefit from individual studio spaces, state-of-the-art workshops, and the expertise of practicing artists who bring national and international experience into the classroom. The program is designed to foster critical thinking, creative development, and artistic excellence.

Find out more information on the exhibition or TU Dublin’s MA Fine Art program