Curios About: Wall of Valhalla by Paul McGrane

Wall of Valhalla
By Paul McGrane
Acrylic on wood, 72cm x 59cm

1. This work is about . . . exploring both real and imaginary places. My work consists of non-narrative scenes and landscapes that are generally devoid of human or animal presence, creating an often ominous, dreamlike world. My work references the fictional worlds created in theatre, film and animation, and aspires to act as sets to prompt the imagination.

2. I made this work  . . . to discuss the further realm of dreamlike scenarios. What is real and what is not. I question what we perceive as real or imaginary as we go about life.

3. I hope when people see this work they will . . . see the layers of medium that are built up over time to a point where original references are unclear and distorted. Both familiar and foreign, the resulting scenes are often disorienting and unsettling. I want the viewer to feel they have entered a fantastical realm of colour and movement.

4. In terms of art history, this work . . . is part of a larger body of paintings and sculptures. Most works can be pinned down across the board as abstract to slightly surreal, even a certain French impressionist painter gets mentioned by some of those faced with my vibrant landscape paintings.

5. You can see my work . . . on my website, and on Instagram.

Curios About is a series featuring works by Dublin artists, curated for us by our friends at the Square in the Circle 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 something you’ve made.