NEW CLAIRE BARCLAY EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE MAC 

Celebrating ten years of art at the MAC, a new exhibition by Scottish artist Claire Barclay opens at the MAC tomorrow (Friday 15th April). It is the first in the next generation of artists to showcase their work at the Belfast venue. 

Claire Barclay is recognised for creating large-scale installations whose artistic practice uses a number of traditional media that include installation, sculpture and printmaking in an exploration of materials and space. 

The exhibition, Thrum, runs until 3rd July and is supported by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland.

Claire Barclay’s works are immersive sensory experiences. Claire explained some of the unique context for this exhibition. “Historical links between the West of Scotland and Northern Ireland provide a framework for this new body of artworks.  More specifically, deep-rooted connections relating to textile production, like Ayrshire ‘whitework’ embroidery, linen cloth production, and indigenous dress have informed choices within the sculptures.”

Senior curator at the MAC, Hugh Mulholland, said the work Claire has created is specifically for the MAC Galleries and explores our relationship with cloth, particularly Irish Linen:

“Claire Barclay creates meticulous sculptural works which respond to particular environments, combining hand-made and machine-made elements her work evokes a strong sense of place, memory and emotion. In this exhibition entitled Thrum, Claire has made work specifically for the MAC Galleries which explore our relationship with cloth and in particular Irish Linen which she has sourced locally and uses throughout the galleries. This exhibition is the first in a series of exhibitions we are presenting in this our 10th anniversary.  

“We are delighted to be working with Claire on such an ambitious and engaging project and we look forward to welcoming visitors will no doubt bring their own associations and memories with textiles, clothing and making when viewing the work”.