Lee Welch | Oedipus | Painting Spotlight

Location: The Gallery at The Complex

Opens: Friday 23 May, 6-8pm

Runs: 24 May - 14 June

Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat. Closed June Bank Holiday.

Tickets: Free entry, no booking required

This unassuming canvas draws you in with its quiet tension.  At first glance, it seems to be a simple scene: a figure lying amidst a disarray of books and papers. But something feels amiss. The figure's face, the very locus of identity, is hidden from view. We are left with a sense of anonymity, a void where expression should be. This absence is unsettling, prompting a cascade of questions. Who is this figure? What are they thinking, feeling? Are they lost in thought, overwhelmed by the surrounding clutter, or simply seeking a moment of respite from the demands of the world?

The artist's deliberate use of muted colours and blurred edges enhances this sense of ambiguity. The scene feels hazy, dreamlike, as if we are catching a glimpse into a private, introspective moment. The figure's posture, too, speaks volumes.  Seen from above, they appear vulnerable, exposed.  This perspective creates an uncomfortable intimacy, as if we are intruding on a space where we don't belong.

And yet, we can't look away. The painting holds us captive, compelling us to decipher the narrative it so subtly presents.  Is this a portrait of isolation? A meditation on the weight of knowledge and the burden of thought? Or perhaps a commentary on the elusive nature of identity in a world saturated with information?

The beauty of this work lies in its open-endedness. It resists easy interpretation, inviting us to project our own experiences and emotions onto the canvas.  In doing so, we are forced to confront our own vulnerabilities, our own anxieties, our own search for meaning in a world that often feels overwhelming and chaotic. This painting, in its quiet way, is a mirror reflecting the complexities of the human condition.

IMAGE :

Lee Welch

a whole string of failures 2025

acrylic on polyester

140 x 110 cm

55.1 x 43.3 in   

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Proudly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

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