'To be there’ at
Artlink Fort Dunree
30.10.25
ARTLINK is delighted to
announce the opening of a deeply personal and evocative
new exhibition by artist Sinéad Smyth, titled ‘a bheith
ann’ (to be there), opening this November at the
Saldanha Gallery, Fort Dunree.
Running from the 2nd to the 30th of November, the
exhibition invites viewers on a journey into the
artist's creative process, exploring the moments where
land meets sea, light meets dark, and memory meets the
present. |
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‘Night Drawings’ by artist
Sinéad Smyth are part of the ’a bheith ann / to be
there’ exhibition at Artlink Fort Dunree. |
Sinéad Smyth is an
Inishowen-based visual artist whose expressive oil
paintings explore memory, landscape, and our deep
connection to place. Inspired by the ever-changing light
and elemental beauty of Ireland’s northwest coast, her
work evokes both the physical and emotional resonance of
the land.
Her new exhibition is a multi-sensory experience,
featuring ‘Night Drawings’ in charcoal and ink,
paintings, photographs, video, audio, and installations.
Using materials gathered directly from the landscape –
including driftwood charcoal, soil, and found dust – the
work captures the elemental forces that shape the
Donegal coastline.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the work, Sinéad
said: “I am interested in what happens in between –
where things touch, resist, and become something new.”
This exploration is not only artistic but deeply
personal. She recounts a poignant moment during her
creative making process: “'I spent ten days on the beach
at Port Bán, camping through an October evening after a
storm to make driftwood charcoal over an open fire for
these drawings. Creating painting tools from found
materials – horsehair, fishing rope, driftwood – brought
back memories of watching my father tie fishing hooks. I
remembered him with the longing of a child, but for the
first time in the three and a half years since his
passing, without pain.”
For Smyth, this project became a path to healing.
“Through this process, I found a quiet freedom: to
remember without sorrow, to change without resistance,
and to accept that simply being - here, now - is
enough.”
Artlink project coordinators Alison Hancock and Martha
McCulloch expressed their delight at hosting Sinéad’s
powerful new collection, and encourage the public to
attend the opening event, where they can meet the
artist, on Sunday 2nd November, from 3pm to 5pm.
Exhibition Details
Title: a bheith ann (to be there) by Sinéad Smyth
Venue: Saldanha Gallery, Artlink Fort Dunree
Dates: 2nd – 30th November
Opening Event: Sunday, 2nd November, 3pm - 5pm
Gallery Hours: Daily, 10:30am - 4:30pm
For further information about ’a bheith ann / to be
there’ or upcoming exhibitions and events at Artlink,
visit www.artlink.ie . |
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