Form V pupils Alice McClintock Bunbury, Dairbhre Murray and Maxx White Anderson report on the recent art trip to the National Gallery and The Hugh Lane.
On Friday 16th May we went to see various exhibitions and artworks around Dublin. We started the day by visiting the National Gallery of Ireland. Firstly, we saw several paintings from the permanent collection, including ‘A Convent Garden’ by William John Leech. He attended St Columba’s College too so it made seeing his work especially meaningful.
After exploring the permanent collection, we visited the exhibition ‘Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship’. We saw amazing paintings and stained glass works here. One of the highlights was seeing Evie Hone’s stained glass pieces, which are also housed at our own school: one in the library and also a painting in the chapel Evie Hone.
After the National Gallery, we enjoyed lunch sitting in the Pav in Trinity College Park, soaking up the atmosphere before heading to our next activity. We then took a street art tour around Temple Bar, led by Ms Cullen and Ms Murphy. My favourite piece was ‘Love Lane’ by Anna Doran. The laneway is aesthetically pleasing and interactive, with stencilled hearts and hand-painted tiles featuring quotes and dedications. We even signed our names there and took some brilliant photos. Another remarkable work was the Blooms Hotel Mural by James Earley, which is based on the novel Ulysses by James Joyce, cleverly integrating literary themes with vibrant street art.
Our final stop was the Hugh Lane Gallery, where a tour guide introduced us to the stunning stained glass works of Harry Clarke. I was fascinated by the intricate details and vivid colours. We also saw Francis Bacon’s preserved studio, which, despite being messy, offered a vivid glimpse into the artist’s creative process. The highlight was the ‘La Grande Illusion’ exhibition by Brian Maguire. One powerful painting depicted the Amazon rainforest, capturing global issues such as deforestation with bold brushstrokes and abstract forms.Overall, it was a fantastic day that allowed us to see art in a whole new way.
