Cavanacor Gallery

 

Rosaleen Davey  ‘Bring to Light’

7 April – 12 May 2001

Belfast born Rosaleen Davey trained at the Ulster College of Art in Belfast 1965-69.  She also studied Art Education at Leeds University and from 1971-75 she was employed at the National Gallery, London as an administrative and research assistant. She did a post-graduate year in the Ulster College of Art and Design from 1976-77.  Since the late seventies she has been living in Dublin and has taught at several institutions including NCAD and the Dun Laoghaire School of Art.

Rosaleen Davey’s work, at times figurative, at times abstracted to geometric three-dimensional forms, and at times reduced to empty, contained spaces, has always had a haunted, puzzling enigmatic quality which reaches beyond the representation of the moment.  The close attention to detail shows the influence of one of her teachers Colin Harrison. Davey’s work for Cavanacor is from the abstract category of her practise, calculated geometric compositions, made up of cubes, cones and various containers show her unique view of still life composition.  The work is consistently realist and often surreal.  For many years Davey’s main concern has been a near scientific investigation of light and its effect on stationery objects.  ‘Bring to Light’ refers to both her intimate still life work and her minimalist landscapes in pastel, pencil and watercolour.