Every year I try to make a point of visiting a very special exhibition, the Young Portrait Prize in the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. This year, I took a very special friend of mine with me too, Nina, aged 12.
Arriving up the curving sweep of the two fine staircases, already quite enamoured, we stood, jaw-dropped, in front the blasts of colour and talent, each quite taken aback by the portraits chosen from hundreds of entries. The winners and commended were from four categories: 6 and under, 7-11, 12-15 and 16-18.
Nina and I gazed at the fine skills and artistic merit of the overall winner.
‘Is that a photograph?’, she asked, accessing the hyper- realism of the painting, rendered with such veracity it indeed appeared to come from a camera and not a brush. Aoibhe Deveraux, aged 16, Tumtha (Immersed), captured something of the delight of underwater submersion in the eyes of her younger brother, which too held us captivated.
‘She even caught the rainbows in the light’, I said to Nina, who simply responded, ‘Wow’.
We then turned to face the wall of winning portraits from the younger categories, colours bursting, complete with wonky eyes, different length limbs, and imaginative use of teeth. A crowd of other gallery visitors had gathered alongside us, and there was a smile spreading fast; a kind of infectious joy, radiating outwards, from the paintings, and from us. We interacted with each other, commenting on how brilliant and impressive they all were. This was art at its finest, eliciting emotion and empathy, and changing the shape of how we might view the world, and interact in it too. ‘Self Portrait of my Future Self’, from Phelim McEvoy, aged 3, made us giggle. Victoria Yan-Rock’s portrait of her father, sticking out his tongue with a parrot on his head, conveyed something of their relationship which I doubt an adult could have managed. Here was the essence of joy itself, and fatherly connection, in splashes of bright blue, yellow, pink and green.
Once we had viewed them all, I asked Nina what painting she was drawn to the most, and why. She selected one I wasn’t anticipating: a portrait of an older father, a globe behind him, contemplating.
‘And why this one in particular?’, I wondered, curiously.
She shrugged, then smiled, ‘I don’t know really. It just makes me … feel things’.
‘And your favourite?, she enquired of mine.
I beckoned her over to a self-portrait of a young boy, Conor Mooney (aged 11) and his very exuberant cocker spaniel puppy, which he entitled ‘My Best Friend’. There is an ease in the portrait of creaturely companionship. ‘Love’, I said to her, ‘I think he has captured so much of what love is’.
I gave her a little hug, and we left, feeling perhaps closer than ever.
A few days later, I asked Nina to help me come up with this week’s creative retreat. So this is from her, aged 12, with a little bit of help from me. Her questions invites us all into the imaginal realm, with a some time travel too. It comes in a few stages.
Visit the exhibition if you can in person (it’s on until March 9th). If you can’t go in person, visit it online here.
Pick a favourite. Think of why.
Now, imagine you are one of the children who has their portrait displayed. Think of how proud you would feel, and what inspires or delights you about the painting. What might it have to teach you about your current self?
Take five minutes to draw your insight or lesson from your gallery visit, or you may want to write about the experience instead. Or both. Wonky teeth are optional.
Nina’s advice is: ‘have fun and take it easy!’
Feel free to share your insights in the comments below.
Coming up on The Wild Edge.
Owl Hours: Creative Practice. Working intentionally, silently, together.
Tuesday 25th Feb, Thurs 6th March, Thurs 13th March.
Writing Sanctuary: Guided journaling and seasonal reflection
Sunday 9th March
Spring Equinox Salon: Poetry, Journaling and seasonal ritual.
Friday March 21st. (Included in ‘Gold Wild Edge membership. Otherwise tickets here.
Plus… lots more writing and resources on creativity, the Celtic seasons, creative freelancing, and more.
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