David Eager Maher
David Eager Maher was born in Ireland in 1979. His work is inhabited by crumbling and obsolete cultural motifs and chronicles an imagined world. Much of the botanic representation and flora is symbolic of an imposed idea of the exotic and exposes natural relics from colonial epochs. While looking at Eager Maher's work, artificial scenes converge and explore spacial and narrative possibilities, all the while engaging with an elegant construction of fragments that intend to navigate the slippage between contemporary drawing and painting. The quiet within each frame reflects the artist’s self imposed isolation where, by confining himself to a small focused existence, he can attempt to understand the history of a much bigger world; One where realism is not about real things but how things are really.
Recent solo exhibitions include, Locus, Oliver Sears Gallery, Villa, Galerie Drei Ringe, Leipzig, 2017. Paper Tress, Pallas Projects Dublin, 2016. Inheritance, Galerie Drei Ringe Leipzig, 2015. He has also taken part in many group exhibitions including Jealous Wall, Luan Gallery, Athlone. Exploration: Landscape, Jarmuschek + Partner, Berlin. Les rêveries du promeneur solitaire, Galerie Drei Ringe, Leipzig. Paper Works II, Galerie Martin Mertens, Berlin.Positions Art Fair, Berlin with Galerie Drei Ringe. In Residence II, Oliver Sears Gallery, Fitzroy Square, London 2016. Innenstabil, Galerie Drei Ringe Leipzig, 2015. MOON FARK, RAKE Visningsrom, Trondhiem, Norway, 2014. Savage State, two person exhibition with James Barry (1741-1806) Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane. Scope Art Fair Basel, 2011 and 2012, Scope Art Fair Miami 2013.
He is the recipient of several awards including, The Golden Fleece Award 2015 (merit prize) The Whytes Auctioneers Award 2013, The Thomas Damman Memorial Trust Award 2013. His work is held in many important public collections including, Trinity College Dublin, The Office of Public Works (Irish State Collection), Dublin City University. National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The Casino at Marino, Ireland as well as private collections in Ireland, England, Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, & the U.S.
In 2014 David's practice was featured in the internationally renowned publication Fukt for Contemporary Drawing # 13 launched at the New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1
Oil, acrylic, watercolour and pencil on assembled found paper and linen 96 x 118.5 cm 2017
Oil on wood panel 40 x 50 cm 2015
Oil on panel 50 x 60 cm 2016
Oil on panel 50 x 60 cm 2017