Within a glit frame, and in front of a golden checkered background, a dark haired woman works on an ornate black and gold old-fashioned sewing machine. She looks down at what she is working on, which is in a red material.
Paul MacCormaic (b.1961), Tania Persechini Sewing, 2018. © the artist. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland, Photographer: Roy Hewson.

Paul MacCormaic

Tania Persechini Sewing, 2018

Oil and acrylic on board, 50 x 45 cm  

‘My mini-series of portraits entitled Domestic Goddesses celebrates traditional women’s roles. Many of the tasks that are largely undertaken by women go under-appreciated. It is mostly men who become celebrity chefs, tailors and fashion designers, although there are notable exceptions, and all the celebrity cleaners are women. My niece Tania is a talented seamstress and sat for me. I chose the icon format because the message it traditionally depicted was that a woman’s role was in the home as a mother.’

 

Paul MacCormaic was born in Dublin in 1961 and grew up in Finglas. He has been exhibiting since he was a teenager. He studied History of Art at UCD and went on to study Fine Art at Dún Laoghaire IADT, graduating in 2006. Since then, he has been working as a professional artist. Most of his work is social commentary. He believes that his role is to observe human behaviour. He works in mini-series, where he researches a topic and makes art from his findings. Once the issue is fully explored, he moves on to the next one, never repeating himself.

 

Go back to the shortlisted works

See the next work, by Ian Maher

You might also like