An exhibition of the work of celebrated West Cork artist Brian Lalor has been on show at the Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen. His daughter AYELET LALOR tells us what it’s like to live with the talented artist.
I GREW up surrounded by my father’s etchings; of Irish cities, doorways, alleyways, and abandoned buildings, the delicate lines and drawings from his now republished book on Cork, bearing witness to a time gone by; women in headscarves and shawls, and streets with little traffic or pedestrians.
These are among the wide range of work in his Retrospective exhibition, at Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre, reflecting his work from many countries, and spanning a distinguished career of over 60 years of artistic production.
Brian Lalor gives a print demo at Uillin Arts Centre in Skibbereen.
The public response to the exhibition has been extremely positive. I spoke to a number of people at one of his print demonstrations at Uillinn, and the general consensus was that they had not been aware of the sheer range of Brian’s work, and I agree.
Different styles and mediums, from etching to watercolour to pencil, from soft sweeping strokes to fine minute details.
There is a softness and humor that runs throughout his work which is evident when they are all seen together on the clear white walls of the Gallery.
The space really lends itself to the work; so much to see, to peer into, to see something new each time.
One of my favorite prints is ‘Icarus and Daedalus drink in a bar in Ballydehob’. A winged figure and a guy with what looks like steam-punk glasses having a pint.
A bit of a Renaissance man, Brian has reinvented himself again and again, with multiple careers as architect, archaeologist, writer, editor, artist, co-founder of BAM (Ballydehob Arts Museum with the late Robert Harris) and of the Blue House Gallery, Schull.
As a teenage student he was in charge of the Arts and Crafts studio at Rockwell College.
Influenced by his maternal Grandfather’s actual Arts and Crafts Movement career, (M.J McNamara, Head of Sculpture at the Crawford (1904-1925), the Lalor household had his wood-carvings, including a dark wood stool carved with Celtic interlace which I remember well.
This was later shown at the Arts and Crafts exhibition in the Crawford gallery, Made in Cork (2016), curated by Vera Ryan who subsequently curated Brian’s current Retrospective.
My tiny niece tried to sit on it behind the red rope as by then it belonged to her, but had to be shood off.
Brian Lalor's Jerusalem watercolour. Ayelet's parents met in Israel in the early 1970s where Brian was the head of the architectural department of the Temple Mount excavations.
My parents met in Israel in the early 1970’s where Dad was the head of the Architectural department of the Temple Mount excavations (one of the most significant archaeological sites of the period), and my mum Clair worked there as well.
He continued to go back and forth from Ireland over the next 10 years, working for the Smithsonian Institute (Washington, D.C.) and other institutions.
Some of the artwork completed in Jerusalem hangs in the exhibition, including a very large watercolor of the city which is subtly beautiful and minutely detailed.
Through his work he has travelled to many parts of the world, always sketching what he sees, his work is a testament to that. I don’t remember anywhere we went as kids when he didn’t stop to get out his notebook to sketch a landscape, a view, or a building. His opinions, political views, architectural and archaeological interests are there on the walls, statements of the world as he sees it.
The Retrospective took over two years to get together, and became a family affair, with everyone involved. Editing, photographing, website and general support were all covered by members of the family, as well as endless talks over the dinner table about layout and structure.
Brian Lalor's Icarus and Daedalus drink in a bar in Ballydehob is one of Ayelet Lalor's favourite works.
When I was 5 or 6 I decided to ’improve’ one of Dad’s original drawings for his book Dublin, Ninety Drawings by doing my own drawing on the page. Thankfully it’s at the bottom, so the image could still be used. It was the first collaboration, and we are currently discussing a more successful one.
As a storyteller, with a mischievous glint in his eye, his tales that excited me most as a child included being arrested for ‘looking like a spy,” while drawing on a middle eastern beach in typical ‘70s demeanor - dark glasses, long hair and big beard (today called Hipsters), or having to swig expensive brandy after being invited for a meal which turned out to be dog food by a refugee in Cyprus.
What isn’t known about him is his fantastical illustrations and quirky wit that cover the many beautiful cards that we, as a family have been lucky enough to be given at every occasion. Today I hold on to them, waiting for the right opportunity to show them for what they are, as another part of his ever extensive oeuvre.
The exhibition can be viewed in full at www.brianlalor.ie. All works are for sale.
