“Neil Dunne's background might seem confined. He grew up in the Liberties and primary, secondary school and college all happened within a couple of kilometres - but this wonderful colourist's work expands the imagination.”- Niall McMonagl, Irish Times

In the exhibition “Outlier” Dunne has created a new body of work since his dissertation in late 2017, a distinct style has emerged throughout this new series of works and presents a complex and impressive array of abstract works that suggest elements of the urban and its surrounding ideologies. Dunne’s practice is concerned with the methodologies and aesthetic of our urban spaces, abstracting and referencing the continual visual additions interjected into the landscape. Drawing influence from the built environment and complex socio-cultural heritage there-in, these works present an exciting visual dialogue for the audience.

Dunne has created depth and intensity to his paintings through meticulous interaction with the built environment and throughout his work there are nods to urban culture and its aesthetics. The intricacies present a thread of stories and self-referential material, challenging the artist to re-interpret and present his findings and processes to the audience. Presented in the original Ballroom in Powerscourt Town House Centre, the ornate walls provide an interesting back- drop against Dunne’s edgy urban paintings. When asked about the exhibition Dunne said that while the new works have been in the making for some time, it is without a doubt that the complex situation that we all faced in the last year has molded his methodologies on his newer paintings and works. While discussing his pieces Neil said, “It is, without doubt, a sense of departure from our old way of living has become more and more evident in the latter end of this year, we have in some ways created a new reality, a new place to exist.” This is evident in the complex change in the aesthetic quality of his work. The visceral and textural nature of his work is alongside the abstracted bodily forms and figures all hint to characters and spaces in upheaval.

You can find out more about the show here