Emer is going for gold with latest artwork Ór
City-based artist Emer Whelan has launched Ór, a new limited-edition artwork that celebrates female strength, ancient belief systems and the legacy of St Brigid.
Ór (gold) is a layered, symbolic piece that draws together “mythology, place and feminine creativity”, according to the artist, who describes it as “a meditation on spring and renewal”.
Its palette of green and gold reflects new beginnings, growth, and rebirth, while the framing – in oak – references St Brigid’s links with the oak tree, under which she is said to have founded her monastery in Kildare.
With Ór, Emer’s aim is to “honour Ireland’s powerful goddesses, ancestral female knowledge and Brigid’s role as both spiritual and cultural guide”.
Emer’s work is rooted in folklore, pagan symbolism and the West of Ireland landscape. Now based in Galway City, she’s originally from Mayo and was raised near Lough Mask, an area that continues to shape her work.
Her practice draws from traditional belief systems, the pull of land and ritual, and the often-overlooked legacy of historic Irish female trailblazers.
Working in her city studio, Emer creates all of her pieces from beginning to end, using a combination of laser cutting and a hands-on process.
She makes each piece slowly, “allowing intuition, memory and place to guide the work”, as she creates contemporary art that’s grounded in craft, as it translates ancient stories into modern form
With Ór, Emer’s art is moving in a particular direction. The collection focuses on renewal, colour and the process of creating space for personal reflection, as she expands her exploration of folklore, ritual and personal experience through larger, immersive works.
Each oak-framed work in Ór is made using laser-cut MDF wood, spray paint and hand-painted acrylic. Each piece measures 18cm x 18cm.
■ Available now in a limited edition, Ór costs €115, from www.emerwhelanart.com.
Pictured: Emer shows her new limited-edition work Ór, (inset), which celebrates St Brigid.