My current painting practice deals with the theme of

abandoned spaces/places, with the imagery drawn from

graveyards and derelict houses. The abandoned,

decaying house acts as a negative space - isolated and

haunting – like the mourning of a tragic death, opposed

to the fairytale memories of that same place that was

once filled with life.

This fascination with the space/place memories of

childhood reference an era before the ‘dawning of

identity’ during my teenage years of self-discovery. 

Therefore on a personal level, the landscape series can

be read as a rejection of the complexities of present-

day awareness in favour of a time of 'non-identity'.

However, the absence of the figure in these works can

intensify the feelings of emptiness.

In contrast to the unoccupied landscapes, the

predominant theme within my drawing practice is the

male figure. The body is often depicted cleansing in the

bath or naked in the domestic interior. These works

often feature a narrative that is hard to decipher by the

viewer, a personal narrative that operates on a subliminal

level, with the male gaze focusing on the male body. 

However, even where the body is not present, even

within the spooky ruins, be it physical or psychological,

the empty place is not devoid of all life, even in the

darkness there is hope, because flowers can still bloom

in desolate places.

Ciaran Magill, May 2009