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UPCOMING EXHIBITION
‘MAYBE, BABY’ at Arcane Space, Venice, CA
September 6 - September 29
Arcane Space is pleased to present an exhibition of new tapestries, embroideries and paintings by Irish artist Domino Whisker titled ‘Maybe, Baby’ her first solo show in the United States. For the past decade, Whisker’s work has centered around themes of loss, grief and the search for hope, often navigating emotions and the complexities of life following the loss of her father to Alzheimer’s disease. However, "Maybe, Baby" marks a significant departure from these somber themes. This exhibition offers a refreshing break from the past, allowing Whisker to revisit her younger self—the six-year-old who moved to Los Angeles from Ireland in 1994.
In "Maybe, Baby," Whisker embraces a newfound playfulness in her art. Moving away from her traditionally monochromatic palette, she introduces vibrant colors that evoke feelings of happiness and nostalgia.—an homage to her roots that seem to have once adorned the walls of an imagined childhood bedroom. These hand embroidered pieces on Irish Belfast linen and 100% New Zealand wool tufted tapestries, depicting California palm trees, poppies, parakeets, bunnies, and thought bubble like texts, invite viewers to recall an idealized childhood.
My work for the past 10 years has revolved heavily around themes of loss and grief, with little glimmers of hope - though my lasttwo exhibitions helped navigate life after the loss of my father to Alzheimer’s disease, when offered a chance to show my work in Los Angeles I saw an opportunity to take a break from the heaviness of that loss and look inward at my younger self - explore the 6 year old version of me who moved to Los Angeles in 1994 from Ireland.
“Caring for someone can make you lose sight of yourself, and when that journey ends, it can be a daunting task of self-discovery. I have really enjoyed using this time to remember myself. Stripping everything back to basics, reintroducing colour in my work and allowing myself to make mistakes.
I have always been monochromatic with my work but I wanted this show to feel playful and use colours that made me feel happiness. Stitching on coloured linen is new to me, I have used Belfast Linen for the entirety of this show, wherever I show my work, I will always bring a wee bit of Ireland with me.
I have spent the last 2 years working with my partner, Stu Callan, on larger hand tufted pieces using 100% wool. Always wishing for these larger pieces to act as portals, to bring the viewer to a different place or time. In my series ‘Remember to Take Your Pills, The Pills You Take To Remember’ I wanted to bring people to a colourful happy landscape, a made up world where anything can happen - but with the pieces I’m doing for ARCANE Space, I want the viewer tostand still and remember what it was like to be a child, to make a mess and not hold guilt or shame.
I will always stitch birds, they are my muse. For this show I focused on the great green Parakeets of the Pacific Palisades.I remember the first time I saw them, a flock flying low overhead while I played with my toys in the hot summer sun. A moment of pure awe, the exoticness of a bright green bird. You’d have to pay to see one of those in Ireland, “here I am” I thought, “I’m living the American Dream” as I clutched my Sylvanian Families in fear they would swoop down and steal one.
Though this show is entirely introspective, the title is a nod to my sweet Dad. Taken from an email he sent to me in my 20’s demanding I quit smoking, he was telling me off but ended it with ‘I love you and want you to live longer than me…maybe, baby’
I read it often and remember always that no matter what I will always be that baby.”
-Domino Whisker
ABOUT ARCANE SPACE
ARCANE Space opened in the hub of LA’s Venice Beach in October 2017. Founded by Morleigh Steinberg and Frally Hynes, ARCANE Space presents the work of a wide range of artists – both those of note and those who may not yet have had the opportunity to exhibit. A portion of proceeds benefits local charities.
