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Katrina Maguire - Artist Talk & Catalogue Launch

10 August, 2007

In the final Context Galleries offsite @ Prehen House event this summer, artist Katrina Maguire has invited artist Alan Keane to DJ within Prehen House itself, with a DJ set of Eastern Beats and Rhymes.

The night should present a unique experience of an Irish 'big house' aurally transformed, and will interplay with the final night of Katrina Maguire's exhibition Viewpoint in Prehen House, which explores various perspectives on life in the kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Katrina Maguire's exhibition Viewpoint in Prehen House can be read not just against its immediate surroundings in an Irish 'big house' but, moving out, in the wider local and national socio-political context and, further, against a western history of orientalism and against the geopolitical backdrop of the seemingly endless war in the Middle East.

Maguire's work is timely, given the current growth of interest in the West in Islam and Islamic cultures. While this fascination is by no means new, it has gained a new sense of urgency in light of the increase in politically motivated violence between a (culturally Christian) Western capitalist power bloc and the Eastern Islamic world.

Maguire has an ongoing concern with the relationship between identity and place. Previous work (draw'ing-room, Bedding Out, Picture House) examines this association and Viewpoint has evolved from the artist's ongoing research. The act of perception is central to Maguire's work; this can be either the audience or the subject's perspective. Heavily informed by exotic locations and ornamentation, Prehen House creates the perfect other world setting for Viewpoint.

Three of the four videos feature Bahrain residents describing contemporary life in the Middle East. Each subject explains aspects of the culture and traditions of life on this tiny island and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The fourth video depicts this idyllic yet controlled environment.

More of Maguire's work can also be seen at Context off-site @ Orchard Gallery, Orchard Street until 18th August.

Prehen House,
Waterside,
Derry
t. 028 71342829
e.admin@prehen .net
Directions: From the Craigavon Bridge in Derry, take the Victoria Road towards Strabane, follow the signs into Prehen after the Everglades Hotel, then follow Prehen Park leading to the house.  There is also bus service FY6 to Prehen Park leaving from the bus depot at 8.15, it is a ten minute journey from the city centre.

context galleries,
offsite @ the orchard gallery,
st columbs hall,
orchard street,
derry bt48 6eg

web: http://contextgalleries.blogspot.com/
tel: +44 28 71 37 35 38 f. +44 71 26 18 84
email: contextgallery@yahoo.co.uk

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