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# Curios About: Grotesque Beauty by Ciaran Bowen
- URL: https://www.dublininquirer.com/curios-about-grotesque-beauty-by-ciaran-bowen/
- Published: 2016-01-06T00:37:23.000Z
- Updated: 2016-01-06T00:37:00.000Z
- Description: If you’re asking whether this is a sculpture or a painting, then artist Ciaran Bowen says he’ll be satisfied.
- Author: Square in the Circle
- Tags: Culture Desk, arts, Curios About, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-03-05 15:28

**Grotesque Beauty**  
By Ciaran Bowen  
Acrylic, oil and silicone on canvas, 5.5in x 7.5in

1\. This work is about . . . investigating the materiality of paint and how I can manipulate it in its raw state to make forms. The work raises questions about the concept of the traditional four-cornered canvas, and it attempts to push outside these constraints to question of what exactly painting is.

2\. I make this work because . . . I want to investigate the relationship between painting and mediums which wouldn’t usually be associated with paint. By using these non-traditional mediums, such as silicone, glue and latex, by applying these materials in different manners, I can create a one-off piece that evolves in its own formless manner, which creates its own self of structure and motif.

3\. I hope when people see this work they will . . . question the piece in terms of its identity in the art world. I want people to question the intention of the piece: is it attempting to be a sculpture or a painting? Or is it merely hanging in between these two practices?

4\. In terms of art history, this work . . . falls under the expanded field of painting: anything goes, pushing boundaries.

5\. You can see my work . . . on my [website](http://www.ciaranbowen.com/?ref=dublininquirer.com), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ciaranbowenartist/?ref=dublininquirer.com), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ciaranbowenart?ref=dublininquirer.com), and [elsewhere](http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/profile/ciaran-bowen/?ref=dublininquirer.com).

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*Curios \[sic\] About is a series featuring works by Dublin artists, curated for us by our friends at the [Square in the Circle](http://dublininquirer.com/curios-about/?ref=dublininquirer.com) blog, and hosted there as well as here.*

*Each artist is asked to submit an image of one work and answer a set of questions about it. We’d love it if you’d [submit](http://dublininquirer.com/curios-about/?ref=dublininquirer.com) something you’ve made.*