Programme
Juxtapose Art Fair
Ormston House presents With time and straw, the medlars ripen by Niamh Porter, at the inaugural Juxtapose Art Fair in Denmark.
Through drawing and painting, the artist searches for connections between the great women architects of the Modernist era. Focusing on the homes built by the architects for themselves, Porter links stories, interests, and relationships to guide us through a seamless collage of rooms and objects designed by Aino Aalto, Eileen Grey, Charlotte Perriand, Lilly Reich, and Minnette de Silva.
The title is taken from a Provençal proverb: “Avec le temps et la paille, les nèfles mûrissent” which translates to “With time and straw, the medlars ripen”. Eileen Grey chose to rename her house in Castellar in southern France from Le Bateau Blanc (The White Boat) to Tempe à Pailla (Time and Straw) inspired by this proverb, which alludes to the need for time to elapse in order for things to mature.
Porter’s use of paint and pencil involves sensitive mark-making and a minimal tonal palette in keeping with the use of space and light in these domestic interiors. By not filling the canvas, the composition reflects the architects’ careful negotiation and consideration of personal space. The artworks subtly reconfigure architectural features through composition, scale, and colour.
Niamh Porter is an artist based in Limerick, Ireland. In 2016, she graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design with a BA in Fine Art Painting. Since 2019, she has been an Artist-in-Residence at Ormston House where she has been invited to prepare new commissions for The Feminist Supermarket in 2021. Porter recently exhibited in RHA 190th Annual Exhibition where she was shortlisted for the prestigious Hennessy Craig Award.
Juxtapose Art Fair is a new, non-commercial gathering for the artist-run sector. The art fair takes place for the first time in Aarhus, Denmark from 20 to 22 August 2021. Through an ambitious programme of exhibitions, public talks, guided tours, and professional networking activities, Juxtapose Art Fair celebrates the diversity of the artist-run sector, while supporting the artists behind these initiatives.
