About the Work
In a Liminal State was a retrospective exhibition displaying the work of painter and master printer Stephen Lawlor. The exhibition explored many of the artworks featured in the newly published Gandon Publication “Profile 29: Stephen Lawlor”.
Lawlor has exhibited and worked regularly in Sweden, Belgium and China. His figurative images can border on abstraction but there is always a strong connection with the history of European painting. His use of light and his focus on the past makes his work instantly recognisable. Images of women started to appear in his work after an uncanny encounter in 2004. His recent paintings have been described as ‘like Dutch Masters on acid’ and can seem far removed from the spectral Geisha or Royal figures in his etchings, encased in the liquid black of their inky spaces.
In his introduction to Profile #29 author John Banville noted, “Considering the paintings and prints of Stephen Lawlor, I am struck by how apposite is that notion of an art that makes visible the invisible space of air … That world exists, in these works, in a liminal state, oddly resistant to the eye’s grasp and yet wholly palpable, wholly there. Gazing into one of his canvases you find yourself being drawn deep and deeper into a landscape – or a ‘landscape’ – sumptuous yet uncertain, that is at once familiar and ineffably mysterious. It is a magical, slightly eerie sensation; you seem astray in a forest, a garden, a numinously shadowed cityscape, under a turbulent gold-and-umber sky that seems more solid, more grounded, than the ground you tread on.”
Speaking about the exhibition Jill Cousins, Director at the Hunt Museum, remarked “In a Liminal State is a fascinating study of the influences on Stephen’s work. The exhibition contains gems from his early period as well as more current work, many of which give you feelings of tension and unease. You are in an uncertain place or space.”
Abstract painting with bold, textured brushstrokes in dark greens, browns, and whites. The swirling patterns create a stormy, dramatic atmosphere. A mysterious figure stands in shadow, wearing a wide-brimmed white hat and green jacket, holding a revolver. The atmosphere is tense and suspenseful. Abstract painting with bold, swirling brushstrokes in earthy tones of brown, red, and white, evoking a sense of movement and intensity. Abstract painting of a faceless figure in a grid pattern on a dark background. The figure wears red, evoking mystery and introspection. Abstract painting with dark, textured brushstrokes in green, black, and red hues. Light bursts through, evoking a sense of depth and mystery. A mysterious portrait of a faceless figure in a red and orange kimono, set against a dark background, conveying a serene and enigmatic atmosphere. Abstract painting with swirling colours of red, black, white, and green. The tones blend dynamically, evoking a sense of movement and emotional intensity. Abstract portrait depicts a textured face against a dark background. The overlay of lines and muted colours convey a mysterious, introspective tone. Abstract painting with vibrant swirls of red, pink, green, and blue on a dark background. The blurred shapes convey a dynamic and emotive atmosphere. Abstract painting with a central, ghostly figure in pale colours against a dark background. The figure is indistinct, evoking a mysterious and ethereal mood. Abstract landscape painting with bold brushstrokes in greens, blues, and whites. The scene evokes a serene, vibrant natural view with a cloudy sky. A side profile of a woman in traditional Japanese attire with her hair in a bun, set against a dark background. The tone is calm and introspective. Abstract portrait with a blurred, reddish-toned face against a dark background, conveying a mysterious and emotional atmosphere. Abstract painting with swirling white and deep red brushstrokes, suggesting figures in motion. Dark background adds contrast, evoking a sense of mystery and emotion. A ghostly, abstract figure stands against a dark background. The form is blurred, with muted tones of white and orange, evoking a mysterious, dreamy ambiance. Abstract painting with bold, swirling strokes in earthy tones of black, brown, red, and white, creating a dynamic and textured composition.
About Stephen Lawlor
Stephen Lawlor was born in Dublin in 1958 and studied at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He lectured for many years in printmaking and life drawing at DLCAD Dublin. Lawlor twice won the printmaking prize at the RHA and other print awards in the USA and in Spain. He participated in the 1st International Print Biennial in Lingshi China 2012 and 7th International Biennial Douro Portugal 2014. Elected a member of Aosdána in 2014, Lawlor also became an associate member of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers (RE) in London in 2016. He was a founding member of the International Academic Printmaking Alliance (IAPA) at the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing, 2016.
Artist's Statement
“From the mid 1980’s, I focused on multi-plate etching and I started painting in 1990. I have worked from the landscape and from the human figure, but I always return to exploring the lexicon of European painting and I am interested in incorporating the compositional structure, colour and light from classical antiquity.
Iconography by artists such as Titian, Veronese, Rubens and Van Eyck has been at the heart of my practice since I began in 1983. After an encounter in 2004, I went through a radical change of perspective which shifted my focus to include the portraits of powerful women from those same centuries. I surround myself with these women from Tudor and Medici periods, the Royal Courts of Europe and the Floating World to try to reach back into the haze and absorb their emotional presence.
The scenes and characters I explore inhabit our collective consciousness and, in recent years, I have started looking into images from cinema in the same way.”
Stephen Lawlor, 2022
Article in Irish Independent
The painter and printmaker was more surprised than anyone to find inspiration from a spectre.”
Launch Night
A dimly lit art gallery featuring people observing paintings on the walls. The space has wooden floors, chairs, and a contemplative ambiance. Art gallery interior with dim lighting. Two people stand discussing a series of framed artworks on one wall. Folding chairs are arranged nearby. A woman in a purple hoodie stands observing framed paintings in a serene art gallery. The room is softly lit, with wooden floors and other visitors in the background. Three people smile and hold drinks at an art gallery. Artworks on the walls create a lively atmosphere. A man in the background looks at a painting. People seated and standing in a well-lit art gallery, viewing framed artworks on white walls. The setting feels calm and contemplative. Two men smiling in an art gallery. One holds a book. The gallery features various framed artworks on the walls. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Two women smiling in an art gallery with framed artwork on white walls. Casual attire, warm atmosphere, and other visitors visible in the background. Woman standing in an art gallery with a thoughtful expression, wearing a patterned shirt over a black top. A framed artwork is visible in the background. A group of people in a gallery observes framed artworks on white walls. An older woman in a red coat stands out. The atmosphere is calm and attentive. Art gallery scene with people sitting and standing, viewing paintings on white walls. Soft lighting creates a calm, contemplative atmosphere. Art gallery interior with people viewing framed artworks on white walls. Some are seated on benches, suggesting a calm, contemplative atmosphere. People observe paintings in a modern art gallery. The room is warmly lit, with white walls and wooden floors, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere. A person stands smiling in an art gallery, holding a plaque. They're in front of two vibrant paintings, setting a celebratory and artistic tone. Two women converse with smiles in an art gallery, while a man examines framed artworks on the wall. The atmosphere is relaxed and contemplative. A gathering in an art gallery, with attendees seated and standing as they listen to a speaker. The atmosphere is attentive and engaging.
