The lemonstreet gallery in collaboration with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority present “Lace” an exhibition of sewn drawings by Irish artist Bea McMahon.
Bea McMahon sews drawings to create delicate representations of modern architecture. They are constructed by a combination of coloured threads and of holes punched by the needle, which allows the buildings to almost float off the page. The images are suggested by the negative space of the drawing.
The exhibition will consist of 25 sewn drawings documenting the changing architectural landscape of Dublin’s Docklands. McMahon has translated and transformed many buildings and structures both current and in the planning including the 1912 Scherzer Bridges, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and the proposed U2 tower into artistic realities.
On the one hand they are empty, almost schematic images created from few lines - a few visual fragments. On the other hand they have something archetypical, almost familiar about them. One way McMahon achieves this is by building her images out of very carefully executed details, which on close inspection seem almost chaotic in their construction.
The overall effect is a captivating stillness, lending something solid the illusion of being not quite there.
