Wednesday 18 February 2015

Painted Back to Life

In conversation with Irish expressionist artist Brian Maguire

5pm—7pm

Manchester School of Art in conjunction with the Centre for Business and Society (as part of their 2015 Festival of Knowledge) and in partnership with Manchester-based creative agency BJL, is delighted to welcome artist Brian Maguire to discuss his creative practice with an expert panel from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Brian is based in Dublin and was previously Professor of Fine Art at NCAD, Dublin. Since 2009, he has produced a number of works exploring the endemic violence in Mexico's Ciadud Juárez region and has agreed to visit MMU to share his experiences of working with the families of feminicide victims and their campaign for justice.

Event Programme

5.00pm Reception and registration

5.15pm Introduction (Penny Macbeth, Head of Art, Manchester School of Art )

5.30pm Artist Brian Maguire talks about working in Mexico with the families of the feminicide victims and their campaign for justice (Juárez is an ideal place to kill a woman because you are certain to get away with it: Dillon, 1998)

6.15pm Q & A audience debate with panel comprising Dr Kate Cook (Gender Cluster), Fionna Barber (School of Art), Francisca Sánchez-Ortiz (Department of Languages, Information and Communication) and Brian Maguire

7.00pm Close

Questions & Themes

— What are the ethical issues for artists in representing traumatic events of this nature? How does the artist’s responsibility to the families, and to victims and survivors, sit with the frequently perceived role of the artist as outside social convention?

— What kind of visual language is most appropriate to represent such disturbing subject matter, so that viewers in turn become actively engaged?

— If violence against women is a global problem what are the consequences for society as a whole?

— How can we educate against gender-based violence?

— How can we combat negative stereotypes perpetuated by the police and judiciary system – ‘The women in question deliberately put themselves at risk by having a night life, drinking with strangers and engaging in weekend prostitution to make ends meet’ and how does this relate globally (e.g. India)

— Exploring art as memorial and redemption

For a recent article exploring Brian’s work please visit The Guardian website.

This is a free event, please book your ticket online.

Barbara 2010 by Brian Maguire
Acrylic on Canvas, 138cm x 100cm
Courtesy of Kerlin Gallery, Dublin