Martin Maguire

GameBoy, 2023

Oil on canvas

"This is my son Sam. I chose the low angle to create a narrative around the immersive nature of gaming. His hands and controller are the focus of the composition - deliberately occupying more of the canvas than Sam’s head. The triangular composition draws us to his face - purposely set against a stark, blank background. He’s oblivious to our interest, which begs the question “what wonders lie outside the frame?” - that source of light that illuminates him." - Martin Maguire

Martin Maguire’s working life was always about storytelling - a writer for radio, TV and theatre. His art is yet another strand. Whatever the subject of a painting, it is, for him, primarily about the story. What does the composition tell us about life, the subject and, quite often, what it means to be Irish today? He creates work that looks at the subject from a different perspective, infused with humour and social commentary where possible.

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