Mary Ruth Walsh: SKIN DEEP

Artist Mary Ruth Walsh discusses her new exhibition of work SKIN DEEP.

This is a new direction for Walsh’s obsession with architecture. Through the medium of film, collage and sculpture, Walsh explores skin’s parallels to architecture. Using Arnold Bocklin’s ‘The Isle of the Dead’ (1883) as a reference, SKIN DEEP brings us to an imaginary island, a medical-tourism destination for the pursuit of the perfect skin.

Walsh aims to uncover the psychology of society's investment in skin as it continues to be a contested surface and a carrier of social standing. The work examines the impenetrable façades of contemporary corporate buildings and impassive faces that are unlined and inexpressive through medical intervention, questioning why flawless skin and flawless architectural veneers are considered important in society today.

Based in County Wexford, Walsh originally trained as a nurse and midwife. She graduated from Goldsmiths College London (MA) and the National College of Art and Design (BA), Dublin. Walsh has participated in national and international exhibitions and the Artist’s Residency Programme in the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; RHA’s experimental drawing studio, Dublin; Aabenraa Artweek, Denmark and Basekamp in Philadelphia. Walsh’s work is in the collection of Trinity College Dublin and private collections.

Walsh’s solo and group exhibitions include IMMA (Dublin); Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane (Dublin); RHA (Dublin); CUBEOpen (Manchester); Oonagh Young Gallery (Dublin); Highlanes Gallery (Drogheda); Parlour (New York and Italy); Arts Centres (Wexford and Galway); Cross Gallery (Dublin); Goethe Institute (Dublin) and SCOPE (Miami). Awards include Create Ireland research bursary, Arts Council of Ireland’s Project, Travel Awards, Visual Arts Bursary Award and most recently Arts Council of Ireland Touring Award.
Her public work extends beyond the gallery space and is both permanent and temporary.

The exhibtion and national tour initiated by Wexford Arts Centre and curator Catherine Bowe has been supported by an Arts Council Touring and Dissemination Award and an ArtLinks Award.

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