News: moved from older website; many links need repair and shortly to be updated.
LATEST NEWS; (updated with missing content etc. soon:
June 2025: NEW WORK IN ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY ANNUAL EXHIBITION
Seán's 2024 collage work; "What's Wrong with Willy's Grave, #2" was selected for the 2025 RHA Annual Open Exhibition, now open in Dublin until 3rd August.
This is the work, which can also be seen exquisitely custom-framed (by FrameFoundry Dublin) and available to purchase at the Academy's website here
*(yes, it's also mis-titled as "#4'; that's my autism playing games! #4 was the earlier version).
It's an unusually large (30 x 30 cm) paper collage work with some elements processed from my own photos in Photoshop. There are several things 'wrong' with it...
The work refers primarily to the first 'scandal' surrounding the burial-place of 'Ireland's national poet' William Butler Yeats: The fact that despite his specifying in a famous poem (with the famous lines: "Cast a cold eye, on Life, on death..."), and to his wife George ("dig me up and plant me in Sligo,”), before his death in 1939 in the south of France, that he should be buried in Drumcliffe Churchyard in Sligo; it seems that when it finally was to happen in the 1960's, there was confusion about the bones, which had been exhumed during WWII, and the wrong set of bones, belonging in fact to an Englishman named Hollis, were 'found' and sent and reburied in Ireland.
This situation has been written about most interestingly here here and here:
A second thing perhaps wrong is that I brought my car into the graveyard in order to light the gravestone with its headlights. Something else is that in the background you can see a view of the Swiss Alps that I took in 2023 on the way back from a trip to the James Joyce foundation in Zurich. It has meaning for me in this context because as I looked from the plane window I suddenly realised that W.B.'s bones were still on the other side of the mountains.
I had already made one version of this work but wanted to remake it bigger (nowadays I use a lot of photographic material found online, and have hybridised my collage technique in that I use the computer as a sort of 'darkroom'; and I hoard images as ever and just print them out usually on A4 paper in one of my archival-quality printers; and then use them to freehand-collage as I prefer and always have) so after adding the Alps photo in photoshop to the background image I reprinted all the parts on A3 paper making the eventual collage bigger than usual.
A third thing is that the ancient graveyard in the background is not actually visible at this angle from the grave; I photographed it separately to use it as the background layer.
The main thing however is the figure in the foreground is the official Garda photograph of the body of the murdered woman Lily O'Neill aka Honor Bright; who it appears was Willy's secret lover, who unfortunately had an illegitimate son to W.B., potentially ruining the legal succession and very valuable inheritance of his wife George / (Georgie Hyde-Lees).
George was close friends with Eoin O'Duffy the very right-wing Minister of Justice and Chief Superintendent of the GardaÍ, the police force in the then-new Irish Free State; and it appears, according to a book (Who Killed Honor Bright?') and much research and writing by Lily’s late grand-daughter Patricia Hughes, that he engaged two individuals including a Garda Superintendent Leo Dillon who murdered her on the night of 8/9th June 1925, and then covered it up, suppressing witness statements, changing evidence to portray her as a prostitute and apparently causing public riots in Dublin. Read more here here and here.
Read about the exhibition here.
------------ More entries coming----------
March 2021: DOCUMENTARY WILL SCREEN IN ONLINE FESTIVALS WORLDWIDE
Screenings for the new documentary were announced including important Irish Film Festivals; 5th March in the Capital Film Festival Washington, 4th-8th march in Chicago Irish FIlm Fest, and in Russia; and at the 2021 annual European conference of Irish Studies. It was also announced that the film will be TV broadcast in full (uncut) duration, later in 2021. Many of the festival showings will be available online.
February 2021: NEW ACADEMIC PAPER PUBLISHED IN IMPORTANT JOURNAL
'Seán Hillen, conspiracy theory and the ends of Irish art' by Professor James McNaughton of the University of Alabama, published in Irish Studies Review; read in full HERE
The abstract:
"Seán Hillen is Ireland’s most important photocollage artist and acutely aware of how aesthetic forms interact with public discourse.
To understand the latter, this article first examines Hillen and Desmond Fitzgerald’s memorial for the Omagh Bombing, which aimed for community reconciliation, but whose reception absorbed the interpretative crisis produced by the bungled police investiga-
tion and surrounding conspiracy theories. Hillen’s photomontages, on the contrary, intently expose such interpretative crises. Having learned from Berlin Dada, Hillen’s early photomontages investigate the contradictions of Irish identity that state. After Omagh, Hillen turns explicitly to US conspiracy theory. He transports conspiracy’s subversion of state propaganda to interrogate post-recessionary Irish austerity and to ask whether British complicity in extrajudicial violence has been sufficiently exposed. Yet conspiracy is another false reconciliation, easily appropriated by illiberal politics, and central to authoritarian scapegoating and disregard. This doubled response, attraction to an aesthetic of suspicion and wariness that such technique has been politically appropriated, maps to a discussion of the aesthetic strategies of the writers Hillen’s collages invoke: W.B Yeats, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett."
October 2020 NEW DOCUMENTARY WINS "BEST FILM AUDIENCE AWARD"
The new documentary won the audience-voted 'Best Film' at the IFI Documentary Festival 2020 ; see here
September 2020 NATIONAL RADIO INTERVIEW
Seán was interviewed for the ARENA arts programme; listen here
September 2020 IRISH TIMES FEATURE INTERVIEW AND COVER IMAGE
A photo of Seán by friend and photographer Gregory Dunn ('Stoneybutter') was published on the cover of the Irish Times Culture Section, with a two-page interview feature. online
July 2020 NEW FILM REVIEWED AS "FILM OF THE FESTIVAL"
Irish Times film reviewer Donald Clarke called "Tomorrow is Saturday" "one of the Irish films of the year" on its premiere at Galway Film Fleadh here and described Seán as "among the most important- if insufficently celebrated .. of Irish artists."
July 2020 NEW FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY TRAILER RELEASED
The documentary film "Tomorrow is Saturday" on Seán's life and art commissioned by the Irish Broadcasting Authority was selected to premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh online on 8th July.
A 2 minute trailer has been released and is available on Vimeo here and viewable (though geolocked to Ireland) with information on the film at the festival website here
June 2020 SELECTED FOR PHOTO BASEL ONLINE GALLERY
Seán's "Jesus Appears in The City"was selected to appear in "Out of The Cosmos" a preview of emerging work at Photo Basel in association with ClairbyKahn Gallery
December 2019: NOW REPRESENTED BY RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL GALLERY
It was announced that Seán Hillen will now be represented by CLAIR gallery. Created by Anna Patricia Kahn and based in Zurich and Munich the gallery "represents some of the most notable photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Philippe Halsman, Jacques Henri Lartigue, David “CHIM” Seymour, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Erich Hartmann, Inge Morath, Erich Lessing, and Lee Miller. Ms. Kahn also works closely with prominent contemporary photographers such as Chien-Chi Chang, Tomasz Lazar, and Petr Lovigin".
The gallery will take part in the online Photo Basel 2020.
December 2019: DOCUMENTARY PROJECT EXTENDED
In 2018 the Irish Broadcasting Association granted funding of €160,000 to the production of a 1-hr documentary film on Seán's life and work for national broadcaster RTÉ titled; 'Tomorrow is Saturday'. Produced by Gillian Marsh TV it was filmed over 2019 for broadcast in late 2019. However it was then further funded by €70,000 to re-edit and further shoot the documentary to cinema-length for distribution and eventual broadcast in 2020.
The film was released on NETFLIX Europe in 2022 and for the U.S. on YouTube in 2025
See above update July 2020
forthcoming book 'The Wonderful World of Seán Hillen' designed by Erik Kessels. (preview of an early dummy here)
December 2019 MAGAZINE FEATURE AND NEW PRINT RELEASE
Totally Dublin Magazine; Dublins premier free magazine gave a full -page feature to a playfully snowy version of 'The Great Pyramids of Carlingford Lough' and announced a new online shop for a series of affordable IRELANTIS prints at www.seanhillenprints.com
(edit; no longer in operation as this site now offers print ordering)
December 2019/March 2020: MUSEUM EXHIBITION DORTMUND GERMANY
15 of Seán's works; a mixture of original collages, replica-collage editions and prints appear in a significant exhibition curated by Anne Mager in the Dortmunder U Centre for Art.
The exhibition which includes Enda Bowe, Willie Doherty, Jesse Jones, Dragana Jurišic and Kathy Prendergast will be launched on 18th December and finish on 17th March 2020. LINK
December 2019 WORKS IN AUTISM AWARENESS EXHIBITION
Two of Seán's works appear in an exhibition in Tallaght University Hospital featuring nine artists from a wider group known as Autistic Artists Ireland.
The artworks will be on show from December 2019 to March 2020 LINK
November/December 2019 PUBLICATION AND APPEARANCE AT LIVE EVENT
The December edition of 'Totally Dublin features a full-page image of a special 'Christmas' version of 'The Great Pyramids of Carlingford Lough'- and Seán took part in conversation with editor Michael McDermott in a live launch event at the Fumbally in Dublin on 26th. Nov.
October/November 2019: WORK IN 1989 EXHIBITION CORK
Seán contributed a work to the '1989 Worldwide Exhibition Cork' curated by Silvio Severino.
It was held in Cork City Library and ran from 14th-25th November LINK
October 2019: LECTURE AND EXHIBITION OPENING
Seán gave an illustrated lecture on his work and and formally opened an exhibition for photography groups from Baileborough and Dungannon at Baileborough Courthouse in Virginia, Co. Cavan.
September 2019: SEVERAL WORKS IN IRISH PHOTOMONTAGE EXHIBITION
13 of Seán's photomontage works featured with work by Laura McMorrow and Joe Lee in 'Cut/Paste - Photomontage Art in Ireland' which ran in the Source Arts Centre in Thurles Ireland from 13th September to 26th October and is proposed to tour internationally.
(LINK)
July-September 2019: WORK IN IMPORTANT NATIONAL EXHIBITION
Seán's work "Searching For Evidence.. In The Rose Garden" was included in the exhibition '21st. Century Ireland in 21 Artworks' in the Glebe Gallery in association with RTÉ and Earagail Arts Festival. It also featured in the original online articles at RTÉ.ie (LINK)
The exhibition runs from 14th July to the 1st September. (LINK)
July-August 2019: WORK IN GROUP EXHIBITION
One of Seán's recent works ("Two Giants at The Giant's Causeway") was exhibited in Boyle Arts Festival
May 2019: WORK SELECTED FOR ACADEMY ANNUAL EXHIBITION
Seáns recent (2018) work "Two Giants at The Giant's Causeway, IRELANTIS" was selected for this years Royal Hibernian Academy summer exhibition which ran until 10th August. LINK
May 2019: WORK IN BEALTAINE FESTIVAL DINGLE KERRY
Two works were included in the exhibition "Home+Less" LINK
April 2019: SUSPICIOUS CLOUDS AT LTK4 COLOGNE
Seán's 'Suspicious Clouds' featured in an installation as part of the 'In Futurum: Space Format" event organised by Rochus Aust at the Lutherkirche in Cologne LINK
February 2019: LECTURE AT ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY
Seán gave a talk on his own work, as the opening of a series on the hybridisation of photography by fine artists; at the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin on 6th Febrary. Link
It will be published online.
December 2018: IMPORTANT VIDEO WORK USING SH PHOTOS
Many of Seán's 'Melancholy Witness' photos from the era of the Northern Ireland conflict are used in a new video; "the lead track from “UTOPIA”, the debut album from Martin & Bell which is released on the 8th of January 2019.The duo is writer Gavin Martin, NME legend, current Daily Mirror Music Critic turned spoken word artist whose words have been set to music by Martin Bell, multi instrumental music and filmmaking maestro who once did time with chart-toppers The Wonder Stuff. Together they are Martin & Bell, born of necessity, the album Utopia is the fruit of their collaborative labours which will be released on the 1st. of February and is an eleven track compilation of the spoken words of Gavin Martin set to the music of Martin Bell." Read more here or see on YouTube here.
November 2018:INTERVIEW RE: BREXIT ON AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TV
Seán did a TVinterview and online feature with ABC Australia on Brexit: using Melancholy Witness photographs and revisiting some of the sites of his photographs in Newry.
Online article here. Short radio piece.
October 2018: Signed IRELANTIS postcard sets now available online here.
September 2018: ONLINE FEATURE AT BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The BJPonline published a long feature on Seán's history and work and the forthcoming book project. Read here.
September 2018: NEW BOOK DUMMY PREVIEW ONLINE
Seán published a video short previewing the forthcoming book of his '100 best' collages, designed by Erik Kessels. The video gained thousands of views in the first few days.
See the video here on Facebook.
September 2018: 3 DAY INTERNATIONAL COLLAGISTS FESTIVAL IN DUBLIN
Seán exhibited a new work; "Two Giants at The Giant's Causeway, IRELANTIS" and gave a presentation as part of the fifth COLLAGISTAS FESTIVAL being held in the Temple Bar Gallery in Dublin in September.
See programme
July 2018: NEW BOOK COVER FOR OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Seán's collage "Searching For Evidence.. in The Rose Garden, Tralee" is on the cover of a significant new book from Oxford University Press on Samuel Beckett:
'Samuel Beckett and The Politics of Aftermath' by James McNaughton "Illustrates how Beckett's work draws from, and responds to, political conflicts such as the executions after the Irish Civil War, Nazi newspapers and propaganda, and war atrocities "
May 2018: FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FUNDING ANNOUNCED
The Irish Broadcasting Association announced it would contribute €135k to the production of a 1-hr documentary film; 'Seán Hillen: The Art of Asperger's'.
Produced by Gillian Marsh TV it will be filmed in early 2019 for broadcast by national broadcaster RTÉ in late 2019 which it is hoped will coincide with the forthcoming book 'The Wonderful World of Seán Hillen' designed by Erik Kessels.
May 2018 NEW INTERVIEW ONLINE
Claudio Nego of Kamera8 Gallery made an interesting interview with Seán on the 'Melancholy Witness' photos.
April-May 2018: MAJOR EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN BELFAST 9th April - 5th May
The Linen Hall Library, (founded 1788); one of Northern Ireland's foremost tourist venues, hosted a major exhibition of Seán's photographs from the 'Troubles' era, recently republished in paperback version; 'Melancholy Witness'.
May 2018: UPDATE: NEWSPAPER SPREADS
There were large picture spreads in the Irish News, Belfast Telegraph and the Ireland Edition of The London Times.
MAY 2018: PICTURES IN IMPORTANT 'BORDER' EXHIBITION
Four of Seán's collage works appeared in the important festival which opened in the Regional Cultural Centre Donegal; organised by the Irish Gallery of Photography; with two facsimile works; one original photocollage from 1983 and a large-scale acrylic-mounted print of 'Newry Gagarin Crosses The Border'.
There was a weekend of talks and events and Seán took part in a panel discussion with artists Anthony Haughey and Dragana Jurisic and Sean O'Hagan of the Guardian.
A smaller version of the exhibition ran in the Irish Gallery of Photography in July-Sept.
March-April 2018: ONE-MAN EXHIBITION WEXFORD IRELAND
Kamera 8 in Wexford hosted a large one-man show; 22nd March- 14th April; consisting of 24 photos from 'Melancholy Witness' and a selection of around 15 collage works as originals, (including fragments from a new collage series); facsimiles and prints.
Dublin City Council Arts Officer Ruarí Ó Cuiv gave a generous opening speech. Link fb link
December 2017: NEW PRIZEWINNING DOCUMENTARY AS IN-FLIGHT MOVIE
The prizewinning mini-documentary 'Seán Hillen- Merging Views' by Paddy Cahill, recently shown by national broadcaster RTÉ was selected as an in-flight movie for national airline Aer Lingus' long-haul flights during December and January 2018. See image.
November 2017: ONLINE FEATURE AT NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEBSITE
The Irish Times Culture Section online published a major feature by Kathleen McNamee on foot of the recent paperback republication of Seán's 'Melancholy Witness' book.
"Hillen’s images are a masterclass in capturing raw human life."
Read HERE
October 2017: ONLINE FEATURE ON NATIONAL BROADCASTER WEBSITE
Sean's work "Evidence of Controlled Demolition in The Rose Garden, Tralee.." was featured in "21st. Century Ireland in 21 Artworks": by Sunday Times Art Critic Cristín Leach, and with links to Paddy Cahill's recent mini-documentary and a 2011RTÉ Radio interview relating to the "Consolations of Genius.." exhibition at Oliver Sears Gallery SEE HERE
"It’s this combination of surrealism, horror, humour and beauty, as a response to anxiety, that marks out Hillen’s work." .. "Time has passed to reveal Hillen as a kind of seer, a man ahead of his time. His layered images of ancient monuments and tourist spots blended with John Hinde postcard scenes of an idealised Ireland were always oddly apocalyptic. His recent works continue to act as a warning sign.".."perhaps his most important message: that blind complacency might just be the most dangerous habit for a human being to form"
October 2017: NEW MULTI-AWARD-WINNING MINIDOCUMENTARY ONLINE
Paddy Cahill's mini-documentary which was recently broadcast by national broadcaster RTÉ, and has been selected for and won awards at many festivals, is now online in full.
VIEW HERE
October-December 2017 SIX IRELANTIS WORKS IN EXHIBITION NAVAN IRELAND
Six IRELANTIS works represented in various print and facsimile collage forms are included in an exhibition at the Solstice Arts Centre Navan. Read more HERE and HERE
August 2nd-30th 2017: TWO WORKS IN IMPORTANT BELFAST 'TROUBLES' EXHIBITION
Two of Seán's troubles-era collage works from the Newry & Mourne Museum Collection have been selected for a notable exhibition in August at the venerable Linen Hall Library in Belfast. LINK LINK "Celebrating the Linen Hall Library’s Northern Ireland Political Collection, focusing on the 1990s, while taking into account events of previous decades. Memories of everyday life during an extraordinary time are brought together, with objects including badges, posters, periodicals, artwork, and ephemera showcased. Newry and Mourne Museum and The F.E. McWilliam Gallery have kindly agreed to loan art works by important local artists Seán Hillen and F.E. McWilliam."
August 2017: EXHIBITION OPENING
Seán opened an exhibition "The Fool by the Roadside" by Bryan Gerard Duffy at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar. "A huge crowd descended on the Linenhall to see the latest work from Bryan Gerard Duffy... Beginning in the theatre with a showing of Bryan's Award Winning Short Documentary "Sumud, Everyday Resistance", the packed theatre was then treated to a fantastic speech by the special guest speaker, and iconic Artist, Sean Hillen - who then declared the exhibition officially open." LINK
July 2017: DOCUMENTARY TV BROADCAST & ONLINE
Paddy Cahill's prizewinning mini-documentary; (now selected for 16 festivals) "Seán Hillen- Merging Views" was broadcast on national TV: RTÉ TV2 on 11th July and is now on the RTÉ Player online, though is 'geo-locked' so won't play outside the Republic, (without a VPN like hola.org ) but will be posted presently on Vimeo, and we'll post the link then.
https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/shortscreen-1295/10749471/?ap=1
June 2017: BOOK SELECTED FOR PHOTO-FESTIVAL
The newly-republished (in paperback form) 'Melancholy Witness' was selected from thousands of entries for inclusion in the public photobook library at Belfast Photo Festival:
June 2017: TALK & EXHIBITION AT LITERARY FESTIVAL
Seán gave a talk on his work in association with a temporary exhibition of some of his works from a private collection, as part of Kells Literary Festival LINK
May 2017: FEATURE ON BRITISH COUNCIL WEBSITE
Seán was featured in a new online feature on photography from the Northern Irish conflict ;
"History through the lens: three Belfast photographers" From the article:
"Over 3,600 people lost their lives over this 30-year period, with tens of thousands more injured and countless left traumatised. This catastrophic conflict left an indelible mark on the nation’s consciousness and visual landscape, and photography became the medium of choice for many who wished to document and reflect on what was happening around them.
Three such photographers were Seán Hillen, Paul Seawright and Donovan Wylie, all of whom made work relating to the Troubles and are now recognised as some of the country’s most accomplished photographers. " LINK
April 2017: NEW BBC TV INTERVIEW
An interview with Seán is featured on the BBC NI 'Arts Show' broadcast on BBC2 NI on Thursday 27th. April at 10pm and BBC1 NI on Monday 1st May at 10.30 LINK
"Melding Troubles-era photography with fantasy and science fiction to otherworldly effect"
It is available for a month online and on the BBC iPlayer (UK only or play via VPN) LINK
April 2017: FEATURE REVIEW PUBLISHED
A super review by Marianne Boal O'Kane in a 4-page spread in 'Perspective' the magazine of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects; (large pdf's) page1 page2.
May 2017: BOOK REPUBLICATION IN PAPERBACK FORM
'Melancholy Witness' the book of Seán's 'Troubles'-era photographs is being republished as a paperback by The History Press on the 10th May. LINK It was originally published in 2013 and republished in the US by Trafalgar Square Press in 2014
March 2017: NEW PODCAST INTERVIEW
Seán did a comprehensive interview for Conor Sweetman's Everyday People podcast.
Jan - March 2017: MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION BELFAST
Seán Hillen : 100 Works opened in the Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast on Thursday 26th January and ran until 11th March 2017 (invitation here)
From the press release: "100 Works; focused on his practice as a collagist, with works dating back to the early 1980’s, is the first major solo exhibition of Sean Hillen in Northern Ireland and the largest ever collection of his works. His distinctive images have been circulating in Irish visual culture for over 30 years.."
Sean gave an artist's talk on Friday 27th.
The exhibition received several features in the national general press including an interview on BBC Radio Ulster and a feature with video at the Belfast Telegraph site.
(The BBC link to the isolated 10 minute interview seems faulty so the whole programme is available here and the interview runs from around 10 to 20:00 minutes in. )
BBC TV Northern Ireland will broadcast a feature on their Arts Show in late April.
February: NEW TV INTERVIEW: NVTV, Belfast City's cable station, have posted online their 25 minute interview of Seán by Mo McDevitt where he talks about his recent Asperger's diagnosis, censorship and more.. Watch HERE
November 2016- April 2017: MINIDOCUMENTARY SHOWN IN FILM FESTIVALS
Paddy Cahill and Basil Al-Rawi's recent short documentary portrait (produced by Tal Green) has now won prizes and been selected for a number of festivals most recently at the London Irish Film Festival, Shebeen Berlin, San Francisco, Rome; (read a mini-interview with Paddy), more here including trailer
The most recently-announced selection is for Belfast Film Festival, on 2nd April.
November 2016 IRISH STATE COLLECTION ACQUIRES SUITE OF PRINTS
The Office of Public Works acquired a suite of 25 archival prints of the IRELANTIS series for the State Collection as first announced earlier in the year.
October 2016 COLLAGE PUBLISHED IN TWO NEW BOOKS
Seán's photocollage from 2007; "No Evidence of A 757 Near The Ha'Penny Bridge" was published within a month in two new books: A miniature facsimile version made for the Bennetton 'Imago Mundi' collection was published in the catalogue, and it also appeared in Dublin City Council's new book produced to mark the bridge's 200th anniversary 'The Ha'penny Bridge Dublin' LINK
Sept 2016 NEW ONLINE MINIDOCUMENTARY
Bryan Meade produced a new minidocumentary published here with an article at murmur.ie
"Presently, Hillen is busy preparing a new book which he says will be a definitive collection of a hundred works with a text by writer Mic Moroney. The, as yet, untitled book is being designed by Eric Kessels under the working title: The Wonderful World of Seán Hillen.Most of the catalogue of work included in the upcoming book will be displayed in The Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast in January 2017."
October 2016 LECTURE
Seán contributed to a review and gave a talk, attended by members of the public and students of Architecture and other faculties, at FABLAB at the University of Limerick on Friday 14th October.
Sept-October 2016 'MELANCHOLY WITNESS' EXHIBITIONS IN IRELAND
Exhibitions including 30 and 35 prints from the Sean Hillen collection of 'Troubles' photos ran in Westport in the west of Ireland and in Newry Co.Down.
The Westport show, as the key exhibition of Westport Arts Festival occupied 2 floors of the Custom House Studios and included 15 prints and originals of the photocollage works as well as 35 prints, and the program included two public talks. LINK
The Newry exhibition contained 30 prints featuring many of the photographs originally taken in the Newry area.
Oct-July 2016: NEW DOCUMENTARY WINS 'BEST IN CATEGORY'
A newly-made short documentary called 'Seán Hillen - Merging Views' by Paddy Cahill (with cameraman Basil Al-Rawi, sound by Mike Glennon and produced by Tal Green) was seen for the first time at Galway Film Fleadh and won 'Best Film' in its category.
It was selected for the Irish Film Institute's Documentary Festival in September and shown in association with the exhibition of some of the 'Melancholy Witness' photos at Westport Arts Festival in October (see above). It has also been chosen and shown at San Francisco irish Film Festival and Kerry Film Festival.
It won a 'Francie' (short for The Francie Brady Not A Bad Bastard Anymore Award) for Best Short Documentary at Clones Film Festival ("Irelands Best Small Festival"-Neil Jordan) on the 30th October. You can see the very brief trailer here:
SEPT-OCTOBER 2016 MAJOR APPEARANCE IN PHOTO FESTIVAL: SWEDEN
1O of new 'artist's facsimiles' of IRELANTIS works appeared in the Landskrona Festival, the most important photo-festival in Sweden, as part of their 'VIEW IRELAND' project, a major overview of Irish photographic practices. The work also appears over nine pages in the magnificent catalogue published as part of the show. See here
June 2016: ACQUISITIONS TO MAIN NATIONAL COLLECTION:
The Office of Public Works acquired for the Irish State Collection a Seán Hillen photocollage original from 1985: "Natives in A Mystic State #3", which will shortly be added to the main web gallery here.
They will also be acquiring a set of 24 IRELANTIS prints and also ordered one of the new 'artist's replica' edition of recollaged print works (made in an edition of 5), (10 of which were recently on exhibition at Landskrona Festival); in this case; "The Great Cliffs of Collage Green"
May 2016: WORK PUBLISHED IN SUNDAY TIMES
Seán's "WHAT'S WRONG? with The New Post Office.." work was featured in the Sunday Times Irish edition and mentioned as "..Seán Hillen's cool photographic collages..".
May 2016: FULL-PAGE ARTICLE IN NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
Seán's 'Troubles'-era work was given a full-page feature in the Irish Post with an online article.
April 2016: NEW ONLINE GALLERY INCLUDING WORKS FOR SALE
Akehurst Publishing have made available a new temporary online exhibition of Seán Hillen's 'Troubles'-era work for sale including original collages and editioned prints.
See more here:
April 2016: ACADEMIC PAPER ON 'IRELANTIS' REPUBLISHED ONLINE
An excellent academic paper on Seán's 'Irelantis' collage works has been republished here.
"Seán Hillen's IRELANTIS- The Second Life of Parody" by Valérie Morrison of the University of Dijon was first published in Ranam 45, Strasbourg, 2012, and is republished by special permission of Ranam Journal. Read here
April 2016: SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION AND KEY IMAGE
Seán gave a presentation at the Symposium at Trinity College Dublin:
'RuinNation: the ruin in Irish art and visual culture, 1916-2016' on Saturday 2nd April.
Seán's 2007 work 'Searching for Evidence.. in The Rose Garden, Tralee' was the key image for the event.
Sean gave a 25 minute presentation titled 'Never Waste a Good Ruin' (link)
March 2016: COMMISSIONED WORK ON TOUR AND ON MAGAZINE COVER- (PRINT AVAILABLE)
Seán's 2015 work; "WHAT'S WRONG? with The New Post Office, 1818-2016" is reproduced on the cover of the March-April edition of the widely-read 'History Ireland' magazine (link here)
Commissioned by collector Larry Lambe, the original collage has just gone on touring exhibition:
'1916 in Contemporary Art' opened in the Toradh Art Gallery in Ashbourne Co. Meath and will tour:Crawford Gallery Cork; 24 June - 24 August 2016
Galway City Museum; Sept
Toradh Gallery Co. Meath; 15 March-29 April 2016
March 2016: EXHIBITION OPENING SPEECH
Seán opened an exhibition for Irish artist Olwyn Colgan at the inSpire Gallery in Dublin.
See olwyncogan.com and relevant post on facebook: link
February 2016: IMAGES INCORPORATED IN ONLINE VIDEO ARTWORK
Many of Seán's IRELANTIS collage images were incorporated in a powerful online video work with spoken word and music by Irish writer and musician Nina Hynes as artist-in-residence to online mag The Wild Word. See here.
January 2016: ONLINE JOURNAL INTERVIEW
Seán was interviewed in depth for the online journal Independant Journal of Interdisciplinary Arts (link)
You can read the interview separately here:
November 2015: NEW POSTCARD SET PUBLICATION
Akehurst Press has published a beautifully collected set of 8 high-quality art postcards of IRELANTIS collages, edited for the project by Sean. READ MORE AND ORDER HERE or click thumbnail on right.
November 2015: PRESENTATION TO PRESIDENT
Sean was formally introduced to the Irish President; 'An Uachtaráin' at a reception in Dublin and presented him with a copy of 'Melancholy Witness' the book. see thumbnail on right.
October 2015: TWO NEW GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Two rarely-seen Irelantis originals currently feature in a group exhibition (selected from 2,000 works in the State Collection): At Lexicon Dún Laoghaire outside Dublin: 19th November- 6th January: Read more
Two important 'Troubles'-era photomontage works from the Newry& Mourne Museum's Permanent Collection have gone on show at Bagenal's Castle Regional Museum in Newry Co. Down. They will be replaced by two others from the Collection in January 2016.
October 2015: MAJOR BURSARY AWARD
Seán was awarded a major Bursary of €9,900 by the Arts Council of Ireland to support him in the next year towards new work, his forthcoming new book and retrospective exhibition.
Sept 2015: IMPORTANT ART MAGAZINE PUBLICATION
The Irish Arts Review commissioned a two-page article on Seán's 'Searching for Evidence..' work on foot of it being the subject of a conference panel at UCC and exhibited at the Glucksman Gallery. See thumbnails on right or read a pdf HERE.
Sept 2015: KEYNOTE PRESENTATION AT CONFERENCE
Seán's work was the subject of a panel at an international conference of Sociologists at University College Cork. 'Commemoration: Contexts & Concepts' ran September 3rd and 4th 2015.
See web-page. See call-for-papersPDF
One of Seán's 'Searching for Evidence..' works, (recently exhibited at the FORMAT Festival in Derby UK) was used as the key image.
Sept 2015 TEMPORARY EXHIBITION IN GLUCKSMAN GALLERY
Associated with the conference (see above) there was be a temporary exhibition of the 10 works in the foyer of the Glucksman Gallery Cork
August 2015: FORTHCOMING RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION OPENS 2017
It was announced that Seán's work over the past 35 years will be reviewed in a major exhibition of c.100 works opening at The Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast on 19 Jan 2017.
July 2015: EXHIBITION OPENING SPEECH
Seán opened the 2015 Graduate Exhibition at Griffith College Dublin
April 2015: WORK FRONTISPIECE IN MUSEUM PUBLICATION
One of Seán's several works held in the Imperial War Museum's Permanent Collection features in a full-page article and as the frontispiece in an important new publication from the Museum:
'Art From Contemporary Conflict': more here buy here for images see thumbnails on right
March-April 2015: INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL EXHIBITION UK
Seán's 2007-09 series; "Searching for Evidence.." was selected from over 1,000 submissions for exhibition at the FORMAT Festival in Derby, UK, opening 12th March and running until 12th April 2015.
Six original collages (several borrowed from Private Collections) and four prints will be exhibited.
http://www.formatfestival.com/artists/seán-hillen
Seán's work got an honourable mention as 'Underrated' in the British Journal of Photography Online's roundup of 'what-to-see': http://www.bjp-online.com/2015/03/what-to-see-format-festival-derby-2015/
The 'Searching for Evidence' collages: http://seanhillen.com/NewEvidence/
February 2015: IMPORTANT ONLINE ARCHIVE PUBLICATION
Seán's work has been included in the long-awaited 'Troubles Art Archive' recently published by the ACNI:
http://www.troublesarchive.com/artists/sean-hillen/work
February-April 2015: NEWLY ACQUIRED WORK ON EXHIBITION
"Five Self-Portraits as Gagarin.." is on exhibition in Limerick until 3rd April 2015:
http://dnote.website/?dnote=the-national-self-portrait-collection-of-ireland-additions<
November 2014: PUBLICATION IN DEFINITIVE REFERENCE WORK
Seán was one of only 200 artists from the last 1600 years of Irish history to be given a full biographical entry in the just-published 20-year, 17kg, 3,000 page "Art & architecture of Ireland" from the Royal Irish Academy and Yale University Press. There were two images published, "Two Old Men And a Marine Commando" the photo from the Sean Hillen Collection at The National Library, and "Sun, Sand & Cement in Temple Bar IRELANTIS" was published in the introduction to the 'Architecture' volume. There are 4 index references.
read more here See thumbnails on right for images.
August- November 2014: ACQUISITION TO IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF ARTISTS' POSTCARDS
Seán's work "Four Ideas For a New Town, No.15" (image on right) has been acquired for, and is included in a new show of selections from, The Jeremy Cooper Collection of artworks based on postcards, currently on show at the Atkinson Art Gallery in Southport, UK. Including works by Dieter Roth, Joseph Beuys & Gilbert & George amonst others, the collection will tour the UK during 2015 and in 2018 it will be acquired permanently by the British Museum. More about the show here.
April- September 2014: WORKS IN MAJOR MUSEUM EXHIBITION
Three of Seán's 'Troubles'-era collage works were included in 'Art of The Troubles'; the first major review of artists' responses to the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland in an exhibition at the Ulster Museum. The works were loaned from the collections of Wolverhampton Museum and the Imperial War Museum. See more here.
July 2014: EXHIBITION OPENING
Seán opened an exhibition of work by Lynne Rothwell at Inspirational Arts in Dublin Read more here
June-August 2014: WORK SELECTED FOR NATIONAL EXHIBITION
The collage original work: "Icarus on The Motorway" was chosen by selectors Martin Gale and Rachel Joynt for the 2014 Eigse Open Exhibition at VISUAL Centre Carlow (and was purchased by a private collector).
See more here.
June 2014: WORK FEATURED IN IMPORTANT BOOK ON 'TROUBLES' ERA PHOTOGRAPHY
Seán's"Gagarin Crosses The Border" is reproduced in the Irish Times review of "Northern Ireland: 30 Years of Photography" by Colin Graham: link here.
There are a number of reproductions of Seán's work and an excellent text by Colin Graham. read here
May-August 2014: EXHIBITION OF WORK IN MAJOR BANK COLLECTION
"The Launchpad at O'Connell St., Dublin,. IRELANTIS" was exhibited in the Hunt Museum, Limerick as part of a group selected from the Allied Irish Bank Collection by Donald Teskey, artist. Read more
May 2014: WORKS DONATED TO CHARITY AUCTION
Seán donated several prints of his collage works which were auctioned, raising nearly £2,000 for the charity Cooperation Ireland ; 'The peace-building charity'- at their Legal Fundraising Dinner at The Dorchester; "one of the most prestigious dinners in London held for the legal profession" read more here. image
April 2014: 'MELANCHOLY WITNESS' REPUBLISHED IN U.S.
Seáns book of photographs from the 'Troubles' era, recently acquired (2011) by the National Library of Ireland (read more below) and published in 2013 by The History Press has now been republished in the US and is available to buy on US websites including WALMART ; buy here
March 2014: ACQUISITION TO NATIONAL COLLECTION
Seán's self-portrait collage work "Five Self-Portraits as Gagarin" (image on right) has been acquired by the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, held by the University of Limerick. It is expected to be exhibited later in 2014.
January 2014: EXHIBITION OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK
"Holes In Heaven" 16th Jan- 13th Feb at Oliver Sears Gallery in a 2-person show with Stephanie Rowe comprised of over 600 images.Thumbnails of exhibition on right.
From the press release: The sky has long been a subject for artists as well as probably always having been the object of curiosity and attention. "Clouds always tell a true story,"; the Victorian meteorologist Ralph Abercromby wrote; "but one that is difficult to read.."'
'Clouds have also always been a metaphor for doubt. Perhaps that is why when artist Seán Hillen turned his attention and his lens to the clouds, what he found there and photographed, whilst beautiful, is to him still enigmatic, mystifying and slightly disturbing.
The Business Post and Metro newspaper both covered the opening.
Seán was interviewed on the live Arts programme 'Arena' on national radio station RTÉ1: podcast here:
The show was featured in the Irish Times 'Ticket' magazine with critic Aidan Dunne commenting: "the odd thing is this, that while the images may seem collaged or photoshopped, they are actually straightforward and un-doctored.."
January 2014: DUBLIN EXHIBITION OF RECENT ILLUSTRATION WORKS:
6 of the 'Legends Of The Fall' illustrations produced recently for the Irish Times can be seen in a show with artist-photographer Joby Hickey, opened by eminent director John Boorman at Inspirational Arts at Herbert Street Dublin until the end of January. Read more here: See the Legends Of The Fall images here:
The Irish Times reported here, and the Irish Independent ran "Icarus on The Motorway" fullpage in an 'Our Favourite Things' feature.
December 2013: 'MELANCHOLY WITNESS' BOOK REPUBLISHED IN U.S.
Seán's book 'Melancholy Witness' published by The History Press has been selected for the Spring catalogue of the US publisher/distributor IPG / Trafalgar Square, and has a USA publishing date of April 2014. The book is already available on Amazon , got an honourable mention in the Publishers' Weekly Annual Review of New Books and is now for sale on the WALMART website.
October 2013: EXHIBITION OPENING SPEECHES
Seán opened two exhibitions on the same night, (a feat remarked upon by the Dublin Evening Herald).
At the Centre for Creative Practices he launched a review of the collage work of Roger Hudson and later he gave a speech opening the New Living Art IV Exhibition at Moxie Studios, featuring the work of around 30 artists.
September 2013: FESTIVAL TALK:
Seán gave a presentation and participated in the panel discussion with Danny Morrison, Chris McGimpsey and Jonathon Hodges at the ENGAGE Festival on Sat. Sept 28th. Read more here . image here.
October 2013: SYMPOSIUM TALK:
Seán gave a presentation and contributed to a panel at the Symposium "City- as Archive; a House for Eileen Gray" held in the Great Hall, Irish Museum of Modern Art, 23rd and 24th of October, as part of a series of events.. Read more here
July- September 2013: MAJOR ILLUSTRATION COMMISSION IRISH TIMES
Seán was commissioned by the Irish Times to produce a set of 10 illustrations for an important series of short stories by some of the most interesting contemporary Irish writers, under the title "Legends Of The Fall". See a temporary public web-gallery of the images here on facebook or click either thumbnail on right:
August 2013: TV INTERVIEW
There is a new 10-minute interview with Seán at the beginning of Dublin Community TV's 'Generator' Arts programme: Watch here
May- July 2013: EXHIBITION: 'PICTURING DERRY'
Seán showed around 12 collages and several photographs in the historic 'Picturing Derry' exhibition which is part of the City of Culture programme. read more
There is a new short video on the exhibition with some interview material: view here
more here on the culture24.org site
May- July 2013: EXHIBITION: 'NORTHERN IRELAND: 30 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY' -
NEW TEXT
Sean had 3 collage works in this historic exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast.
read more There was also a very significant hardback publication in association with the exhibition with a text by Colin Graham, in which the three collages are reproduced and the work is discussed.
Colin Graham has generously made available his text, excerpted; read here .
Read more about the book here:
June 2013: IMPORTANT REVIEW FOR NEW BOOK: 'MELANCHOLY WITNESS'
The Irish Times published a thoughtful book review of 'Melancholy Witness' by picture editor and photographer Frank Miller: " ..all the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for an inability to notice. This volume is something of a gem. In a world of image overload it represents a triumph of substance over technique.."
read online here. See an image here.
June 2013: BBC RADIO INTERVIEW
Seán did a short general interview on photography alongside Roger Ballen and Harriet Purkis for BBC Radio Ulster's 'Arts Extra' Programme. You can download a podcast of the whole program (Mon 13th edition: Seán comes in first around 15:00) at this page or directly at this link
June 2013: TEMPLE BAR PHOTOGRAPHY SUMMER SCHOOL
Seán was a panellist and presenter at the new Summer School with a host of eminent contributors: read more
June 2013: FRONT-PAGE FEATURE ONLINE
A new slideshow of the 'Melancholy Witness images' featured on the front page of socialdocumentary.net
The slideshow can be seen here .
May 2013: SUNDAY TIMES PHOTO SPREAD
The Sunday Times Culture Section used very large a photo from the new book and discussed Seán's work in a piece on the "Northern Ireland: 30 Years of Photography" exhibition which recently opened in Belfast. see image.
May 2013: ONLINE FEATURE: LECOOL
LeCool online magazine carried a kind notice for the book launch: read
April 2013: NEW BOOK LAUNCH: 'MELANCHOLY WITNESS'
Roy Foster, professor of Irish History at Oxford launched The History Press Ireland's "Melancholy Witness", the hardback collection of 120 photos from the Seán Hillen Collection of photographs recently acquired by the National Library of Ireland.
The event took place in the front hall of the National Library of Ireland in Kildare Street in Dublin. Someone has kindly uploaded a video of the speeches: here . UPDATE You can now read Prof. Foster's speech here.
The book is well-distributed so ideally can be found or ordered in your local bookshop but is available online here and here or signed and inscribed copies are available direct from this website. Click here to email enquiry.
From the book jacket:
"Melancholy Witness is the published collection of Sean Hillen's lauded photography documenting the years of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Combining art with documentary history, what emerges is a powerful and compelling story of unrest, beauty and change."
"The photographs are like black and white time machines that bring back the desolation and danger of the Troubles. The images have a documentary accuracy, but it is the aura of melancholy witness that marks them as the work of Sean Hillen."
- Seamus Heaney, Nobel Laureate
"Striking, haunting sometimes bleakly beautiful:
a record of historical importance but also much more."
- Roy Foster, Carroll Professor of Irish History, Hertford College, Oxford.
March 2013: WORK ON COVER OF NEW BOOK ON IRISH ART
"The Oracle at O'Connell Bridge, Irelantis" appears on the cover of an important new book on Irish art: Reaktion Books has published 'Art in Ireland since 1910' , to be distributed in the US by the University of Chicago Press
March 2013: INTERVIEW IN ARGON MAGAZINE
Seán was interviewed by Katy Fitzpatrick for Argon online magazine: link
March 2013: PHOTO FEATURE AND INTERVIEW ONLINE
For the OFFSET festival LeCool Dublin commissioned SeanandYvette to photograph Seán in his studio. Words byBrian Herron. See it here.
February 2013: UPDATE: WORKS ON MORE THAN 30 BOOK COVERS
With the forthcoming cover image it seems a good time to review (link) the many books and magazines with Seán Hillen works on their covers.
January 2013: ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON COLLECTING
Sean took part in a symposium on January 26th at the Irish Gallery of Photography, which looked at issues around collecting photography.
Read more here on GoP's facebook page:
January 2013: EN FRANCAIS: ONLINE ARTICLE ON SEAN HILLEN
Le Web Pedagogique blog 'Tips in English' carries a comprehensive article covering a range of Sean's work, with links to other texts in French.
The original in French is here and an online translation in English here
December 2012: BBC INTERVIEW SPECIAL PROGRAMME
BBC Radio Ulster Arts Extra broadcast an interview with Sean with Louise Muir as one of their Christmas Special programmes. Produced by Paul Russell, the programme was on iPlayer and and may become available again as podcast.
December 2012 PAPER ON IRELANTIS IN IMPORTANT JOURNAL
The eminent journal Ranam published a fascinating academic paper by Valerie Morrison of the University of Bourgogne, entitled "Sean Hillen's Irelantis- the second life of parody". You can read the abstract here which says: "..postmodern parodies that .. spur the viewers to address the issue of referentiality as reality is turned into a spectacle.. also parodies tourism photography and the staging of heritage.. therefore a critical inquiry into Irishness, the invention of traditions, and the construction of staged authenticity. It echoes the revisionist trend in Irish history and signals the advent of the postnational era."
UPDATE:
OPENING CHAPTER DISCUSSING IRELANTIS NOW AVAILABLE
The complete opening chapter from 'Theorizing Ireland' (Palgrave, 2002) recently became available online here: Ireland in Theory', (pdf) . By editor Claire Connolly of Cardiff University, it devotes several pages to an interesting discussion of Irelantis:
"Hillen's Irelantis provides an ideal viewpoint from which the ebb and flow of cultural currents can be observed.. ...
...Multiple borders are invoked in the image: the land meets the lough, which in its turn confronts the sea; the sea encounters sky and the skyline dramatically gives way to outer space. Boundaries and edges are the very stuff of Hillen's art, and here, as with all his collages, the lines and joins are obvious, jutting out for all to see. The pyramids are clearly pasted into the Irish landscape, itself overlaid into a global skyscape. If Carlingford Lough's strategic position on the Irish border is taken into account, the meanings of these boundaries become clearer: they inscribe a political border that is not physically present, the only clues to its existence being the juxtaposition of superimposed scenes... "
Irelantis has also been written about interestingly in the past by academics including Jennifer Way (Uni. Texas) here for instance published in the Journal of European Popular Culture, and here in the Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies.
December 2012: HILLEN IN NEW BOOK ON 'NEW CONTEMPORARY' IRISH ART
Seán Hillen's work features over several pages in a new book on 'New Contemporary' Irish art, a genre that admits 'Lowbrow, Pop Surrealism, Comic, Graphic, Illustrative, Urban, Body Horror, and more'. 'Goblin Market' by Alexa MacDermot, published by White Lady Art includes work by artists including; Anarkitty, Gaetan Billault, Harriet Myfanwy Nia Tahany, Solus, Verz, Rosemary Fallon, Kathrina Rupit, Paul McGrane, Victoria Cody, Loreana Rushe, Carolyn Walsh, DMC, ADW, Leah Hewson, Boz Mugabe and Loki Nom Art... more information here.
October-December 2012: 'SEAN HILLEN RE-VIEWED' EXHIBITION IN DONEGAL
The new exhibition of mega-resolution prints ran in An Gealearaí in Gweedore , in Donegal. Also featuring were two original collages from the 'WHAT'S WRONG? with The Consolations of Genius" series. The show ran until 21st. December.
September 2012: EXHIBITION OPENING SPEECH
Seán opened 'Tales of Seduction' by artist & illustrator Una Gildea at the Copper House Gallery- see more about the opening here and her terrific work here.
September 2012 INSPIRATIONAL ARTS AWARD PRESENTED
Seán was honoured to judge and present the 2012 award. This year's shortlist showed very exciting work, see the web-galleries of Karl Martini and Laura McCormack, and the highly deserving winner Lynn Rothwell.
September 2012 PHOTOS IN NEWRY EXHIBITION
Six of the photographs recently acquired by the NLI were in an exhibition as part of the Pride In Newry Festival .
September 2012 WORKS IN OMAGH LITERARY FESTIVAL EXHIBITION:
Seán has three works, including a new version of "WHAT'S WRONG? with WTC7", the animation work created for the Photographer's Gallery London in May. "Memory, Imagination, Myth" in the Strule Arts Centre, as part of the The Benedict Kiely Literary Festival (website) (download PDF). Curated by Terry Sweeney, the exhibition includes work by JB Yeats and George (AE) Russell as well as contemporary Irish artists.
Aug-September 2012: NATIONAL LIBRARY ACQUISITION & EXHIBITION
The National Library of Ireland announced at PhotoIreland 2012 that it had acquired and would exhibit what will be known as The Seán Hillen Collection of around 600 photographs taken by the artist between 1979 and 1990.
Read more here See a selection of the photos here
There was a major exhibition of almost 50 photos in the National Library of Ireland Photographic Archive gallery in Temple Bar Dublin as a Featured Exhibition of PhotoIreland 2012 7 days a week until 30th September.
Update:16,500 people visited the NLI exhibition.
OPENING SPEECH:
The exhibition was opened with a moving speech by author Don Mullan.
TALK- PART 1 POSTED ON WEB: Seán gave a 2-hr 'walking tour' of the NLI exhibition which was filmed by TV Monaghan and a first instalment has been posted on YouTube here, a sort of introduction and discussion of the first group of photos in the show.
PRESS: There is a very moving review in Le Cool online magazine here.
PRESS: Two photos feature in an Irish Times online slideshow here.
PRESS: There was a page devoted to a photo in the July Totally Dublin Magazine see screengrab or read the edition online here.
NATIONAL TV INTERVIEW:
Seán did an interview with Martin King of Ireland's TV3.
NATIONAL RADIO APPEARANCE:
Seán gave a short interview on the National radio station RTÉ's 'Morning Ireland' to talk about the NLI show and about 'Culture Night' when art institutions across Ireland remain open until late night. 2856 people visited the NLI exhibition on the night
TALK: GALLERY TALK 10th August NLI Photo Archive Dublin
As part of the Temple Bar 'High Tea Hop' day Seán gave a 45 minute talk. Seán gave a number of talks on the exhibition to different groups.
May 2012: EXHIBITION OF NEW ANIMATION ARTWORK LONDON
Seán was invited to contribute a new artwork, in the form of a GIF image animation, for exhibition on a video wal at The Photographer's Gallery.
Here's the GIF on their page
Here's more about the project which celebrated the history of the GIF image, as part of activities celebrating the Gallery's reopening.
The new work; "WHAT'S WRONG? with WTC7.." was seen again with two other Hillen works in an interesting exhibition in Omagh in September.
Here is the full-resolution version of the animation- may take a few seconds to load.
February 2012: EXHIBITION DUBLIN / NEW PRINT EDITIONS
A new exhibition presents new museum-scale print editions derived from new ultra-high-resolution scans of Seán's collages . "ReViewed" by Seán Hillen at Copper House Gallery Synge St. Dublin, was opened by Tanya Kiang, director of the Gallery of Photography.
READ PRESS RELEASE
PRESS: FEATURES
Ros Drinkwater for the Sunday Business Post
Conor McDevitt for Le Cool
'Going Out' list in Metro Herald
October 2011: VISITING LECTURES MADRID
Seán visited to give lectures and teaching for the International Photobook course for the very interesting European Master In Fine Art Photography course at the IED Madrid. Download PDF. Website. The course has an international visitng staff including Simon Roberts and Martin Parr.
September 2011: INSPIRATIONAL ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
Seán had the task of choosing shortlists and winners from the photography courses taking part in the 2011 Inspirational Arts Photography Award, with the final award given on Culture Night 23rd September.
August 2011: NEW KINETIC SCULPTURE IN EXHIBITION
Seán contributed a new kinetic sculptural work to the prizewinning Science Gallery at Trinity College's exhibition; ELEMENTS
See website here and image here
July 2011: EXHIBITION DUBLIN / WEBSITE OF NEW PHOTO WORKS
A new body of photographs by Seán Hillen was shown:
"Ghost Shops" a major exhibition for PhotoIreland 2011
July 2011: PRESS: ONLINE ARTICLE & SLIDESHOW
The Journal.ie: 'An Empty Set Photographed'
April 2011: PRESS: SLIDESHOW
One of Seán's Ghost Shop photos appeared as a 'postcard' in an Irish Times feature "Wish You Were Here?" which can be seen as a slideshow here
March 2011: PRESS: ONLINE ARTICLES & SLIDESHOWS & VIDEO
The Journal.ie: 'Artist Seán Hillen brings new political statement to Dail's doorstep'
Vulgo.ie: Audio interview and slideshow by Deirdre Mulrooney
Short video by Bryan Meade on 'Ghost Shops'
February 2011: PRESS: IMPORTANT REVIEW ARTICLE
'Culture Shock' by Fintan O'Toole: Irish Times:
"The darker side of IRELANTIS was lost on us.."
February 2011: EXHIBITION OF NEW COLLAGE WORKS
Seán exhibited for the first time a new body of 18 photocollage works, 2010-2011:
"WHAT'S WRONG? with The Consolations of Genius" at Oliver Sears Gallery
and website for the new collages
February-March 2011: PRESS: INTERVIEWS AND FEATURES ON THE SHOW
radio Interview: RTÉ 'Arena'
radio interview for Dublin City FM
review and interview at Le Cool Dublin
interview on RTÉ Lyric FM Culture File (MP3)
Irish Times article: 'Hillen Dale' screengrab
feature article in Dublin METRO Herald: hires scan
October 2010: ONLINE EDUCATION PROJECT
Several of Seán's collages are being published as part of the "Images and Identity" educational project part-funded by the EU.
September 2010: MUSEUM ACQUISITION & EXHIBITION
Newry & Mourne Regional Museum showed a major exhibition of Seán's 'Troubles'-era works including several recently added to their permanent collection.
July 2010: MAJOR EXHIBITION FOR PHOTO FESTIVAL
'Fragments From A Broken World'with kennardphilipps for PhotoIreland 2010
curated by Anthony Haughey at National Library of Ireland Photo Archive
Podcast of a panel discussion (listenable, here) with Cat Phillips, Peter Kennard, Seán Hillen and Anthony Haughey by CREATE
National Photo Archive show in Le Cool online magazine
June 2010: TV DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
10 minute TV feature on Newry Museum exhibition on TG4 'Imeall'.
(Irish Times 'critic's choice' for the day)
April 2010: PRESS UPDATE
There was a full-page interview with Seán in Totally Dublin magazine, available online.
The Alliance show got half-page articles in the Irish Independent (link) and the Irish SUN and picked as 'Going Up' and 'Worth Seeing' by the Irish Times.
It was 'Critic'sChoice' in the Irish Independent.
The Irish Times printed a huge image of '..Collage Green' with their review of the Dictionary of Irish Biography.
March 2010: EXHIBITION & TALK DUBLIN
Seán gave an illustrated talk on his work and its history in association with the exhibition at the Alliance Francaise 1 Kildare St. Dublin info here.
March-April 2010: EXHIBITION DUBLIN
'Return to Irelantis' at the Alliance Francaise, 1 Kildare St. Dublin - including several of the original collages, and a selection of archival prints. The show celebrates the Alliance's 50th Anniversary.
A catalogue with 18 images was available.
Download press release (pdf)
March 2010: EXHIBITION CAVAN
A large review show in the Bluewall Gallery in Cavan included some 'Troubles'-era pictures never previously exhibited. Article in the Anglo Celt here.
February 2010: EXHIBITION ART CHICAGO
Ten of Seán's 'troubles' - era collages were shown in association with BlueLeaf Gallery at ART CHICAGO
February 2010: EXHIBITION DUBLIN
'Wildly Different Things: New York and Dublin' at 'The Observatory', 7-11 Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin 2.
Irish Times articles here and here
February 2010: EXHIBITION NEW YORK
Three prints of Sean's collages were in 'Putting It All Together' at Climate Gallery, Long Island, NYC
Jan 2010: EXHIBITION YORK
CRUNCHTIME 2010 : 'Art and Global Issues' in York, UK, exhibited two of Seán's 2007 collages.
December 2009: MAJOR MUSEUM PURCHASE
Wolverhampton Museum purchased two of Seán's 1980's photomontage works including the important picture "Four Ideas For a New Town No.1.
for their semi-permanently exhibited 'Northern Ireland' collection
November 2009: 2006 DOCUMENTARY NOW ONLINE
"Hillen- Return To Newry" online HERE on VIMEO . A 28 minute documentary, Made 2006-7 by Aidan Bell, Saidhbh Ní Dhúlaing, Roma Roberts and Ross Murray, as a final year project.
October 2009: CONFERENCE / EVENT
Seán took part in the "Belfast Sarajevo Initiative At Queen's 2009" event, in Queen's University Belfast.
More information here.
October 2009: SEAN STUDIO PHOTOS
Seán was photographed in his studio by Aidan Kelly.
September 2009:PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG FEATURE
Seán's work was featured by MaryAnn Camilleri, founder of Magenta Publishing, with her other picks from this year's Rhubarb-Rhubarb folio review event and a PHOTO
August 2009:TV DOCUMENTARY ONLINE
Community TV channel NVTV broadcast in Belfast their documentary on the recent Arts Council of Northern Ireland's 'Art & Conflict' conference, and Seán was interviewed,as well as Zoë Lippett of Wolverhampton Art Gallery, and Justice Albie Sachs. Glenn Patterson spoke with Michael Longley. Internet archive now available here
August 2009: PHOTO-FESTIVAL EXHIBITION LITHUANIA
Seán's work was exhibited in '9 lessons on Photography as part of KAUNAS FOTO the Baltic States' photo-festival. , and will be later in CRUNCHTIME 2010 in the city of York.
August 2009: ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP
Seán gave a talk and took part in the now what? workshop 10: MONUMENT TIME at Richview the School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering at University College Dublin. Contributors included Maurizio Scalera, Benedetta Alessi, Brian Ward, Ide Moloney, and Gary Farrelly
August 2009: PHOTO FESTIVAL REVIEW BIRMINGHAM UK
Seán attended the International Portfolio Review at 'Rhubarb-Rhubarb', 'Europe's premier portolio event' in Birmingham. He met and showed his pictures to several eminent and significant reviewers and the work was very well received. It is hoped that among other things, a new 'collected works' book project will result.
August 2009: EXHIBITION: BIRR ARTS FESTIVAL
Six of Seán's collage originals were in 'Ritual Flux 51', curated by Eilis Lavelle of the Mermaid Arts Centre, and Carl Giffney and Ruth Lyons of The Good Hatchery
June 2009: MAJOR 'ART & CONFLICT' CONFERENCE BELFAST
Seán spoke at a major conference in Belfast. "Art & Conflict" , organised by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in the Royal Opera House Belfast. More information here or download flyer PDF.
UPDATE: Some of Seán's remarks got the attention of blogger 'Slugger O'Toole' via Malachi O Doherty's arts blog.. More Here.
June 2009: UPGRADE TO OMAGH MEMORIAL SCULPTURE
Recent weather allowed work to upgrade the Omagh Bomb Memorial .A new mirror near the pillar allows someone on the opposite pavement to look into the cut-glass heart directly backlit by sunlight from the Memorial Garden.
New photos at omaghbombmemorial.com
June 2009: BOOK LAUNCH
Seán launched a book for Dr. Maria Duffy of the Milltown institute. "Paul Ricoeur's Pedagogy of Pardon" 'describes how memory is structured, ... and addresses issues in his theory of forgiveness and reconciliation'. Dr. Duffy's book includes a photo of the Omagh Memorial.
May 2009: LODZ FOTOFESTIWAL POLAND
Seán was one of three Irish photographic artists who attended Lodz Fotofestiwal. Curated by Peggy Amison of Sirius Arts Centre and with the support of Culture Ireland they attended presentations of their work and participated in the Portfolio Review sessions, an opportunity to meet curators, gallerists and publishers. The other artists attending were David Farrell and Eoin O'Connaill and the work of Jackie Nickerson and Mark Curran was also shown.
April 2009: MUSEUM EXHIBITION
Three of Seán's 'troubles'-era works can now be seen on semipermanent exhibition at the Imperial War Museum IWM North in Manchester.
November 2008: NEW COLLAGE WORKS: "Searching For Evidence..."
More than 12 new collages by Seánwere unveiled in an exhibition at the Gallery of Photography, Dublin. There was a reception on Friday 14th. with a performance by the marvellous Kevin McAleer.
There is a new webgallery for the work.
For more info download the press release here.
UPDATE: Someone has kindly uploaded video of much of Kevin's performance- Worth seeing! HERE. Turn volume UP and make sure to play all the parts...
One of the images was simultaneously exhibited as a 48-sheet billboard in three locations in Belfast as part of the "Art, Media and Contested Space" events by the 'Interface' unit at the University of Ulster School of Art & Design
August 2008: MAJOR MEMORIAL COMMISSION UNVEILED
The Omagh Bomb Memorial, by Seán and Landscape Architect Desmond Fitzgerald, was unveiled at a 10th Anniversary event in Omagh.
more information at www.omaghbombmemorial.com.
August 2008:MAJOR ARTICLE PUBLISHED
Artinfo.com carried a front-page article on Seán's work and the Omagh Memorial commission.
Read "The Art of Peace" by Oscar MacLennan
August 2008: EXHIBITION OF NEW COLLAGE
A new and previously unseen collage work by Seán appears in an exhibition at the Irish Gallery of Photography, Dublin.
"No Evidence of A 757 Near the Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin" appears in: 'Based On Our Current Science', curated by Sally Timmons runs August 14 th until September 21st.
June 2008: EXHIBITION
Several IRELANTIS works (about 5 originals and 5 prints) were featured in a major exhibition as part of the 6th World Archaeological Congress in UCD Dublin.
The exhibition ran from 30th June until 31st July.
Click here for more information.
May 2008: EXHIBITION OPENING SPEECH
Seán opened an exhibition for students in BA (Hons.) Creative Imaging from the SRC Lurgan, and Huddersfield University, at St. Patrick's Trian in Armagh.
Click here for more information on the work and show..
March 2008: ONLINE PUBLICATION
The CANDY COLLECTIVE published 20 pages of Seán's work, with an interview.February 2008: MAJOR MUSEUM PURCHASE
The Imperial War Museum, London, have purchased two more of á 'Troubles' - era photomontage works for their Permanent Collection.
January 2008: NEW BOOK COVER
One of Seán's 'IRELANTIS' collages is on the cover of a new book: "Film, Media and Popular Culture in Ireland" by Martin McLoone, author of the standard work on Irish Cinema
January 2008: NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION
One of Seán's 'Troubles' - era photomontage works was published in "Le Monde- Diplomatique" to illustrate an article on 'Troubles tourism'.
December 2007: SEMINAR BELFAST
Lens Based Practice and the Representation of Conflict: "Through a lens, darkly"
READ MORE
November 2007:DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
"Hillen- Return To Newry" (Dir. Aidan Bell) at the Foyle Film Festival "Artist Seán Hillen grew up in Newry, surrounded by the conflict of the'Troubles'. Nearly forty years later, he revisits the place that influenced his work so heavily.. "
MOREOctober 2007: TALKS
Thursday 11th October-Dublin.Sugar Club, from 7pm.SweetTalk 27 : "an audiovisual spectacular retrospective of the graphic visionary Niall Sweeney" with contributions from 'heroes & muses', included a short presentation by Seán.
Seán gave a presentation on his work, as a guest in "SweetTalk 26 " an evening with 'Factory' photographer Nat Finkelstein, related to "The Eternal Now" Andy Warhol exhibition in The Model in Sligo.
SweetTalk is a project by the Candy Collective.
September 2007:
One of Seán's IRELANTIS collages; "Newry Gagarin over Dublin" was in a show called "[C]artography: map-making as artform" in the Crawford Gallery in Cork.August 2007: PERMANENT MUSEUM EXHIBITION MANCHESTER
Two of Seán's photomontage artworks from the 1980's are on semi-permanent exhibition in the 'TimeLine' at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.
The IWM acquired several of the works for their Permanent Collection in 1988.
May 2007: EDUCATION PROJECT
The images Seán created with Deansrath College for Amnesty Ireland (see more below) have been published, with others, in a workbook which will be made available to schools.
April 2007: EXHIBITION NEWRY
Seán exhibited a number of 'Troubles"- era montages, in an interesting show in "The Gallery Newry" from the 13th to 27th of April
March 2007: EVENT
Seán took part in the SOURCE AT 50 'PHOTO QUIZ' event being held in Dublin on 24th March, to mark the relaunch of the photography magazine.
Febuary 2007: NEW WEBGALLERY
There is a new webgallery of nearly 900 photographs from the period of the Northern Irish 'Troubles'. This includes all the photos in the original gallery.February 2007: TV TITLE GRAPHICS
Seán's 'IRELANTIS' collages are used in the opening graphics of TG4's series,
"Cártaî Poist" in which guests re-create classic 'John Hinde' Irish postcards.
January 2007: WEBSITE UPGRADE
All images in the main gallery of photomontage works now zoom in to hi-resolution versions.
Click on the image to enlarge it and click again to return.
January 2007: WEB PUBLICATION
Seán's Dublin Bicykills photos were written about in an Irish Cycling blog.
December 2006: TV APPEARANCE
Seán appeared on RTÉ TV's 'Capital D' talking about 'SEED' the new Art/Science group in Dublin.
November 2006: WEB PUBLICATION
There is now a 'wikipedia' entry for Seán click here
October 2006: LECTURE
Seán gave a presentation, open to the public, at Limerick School of Art & Design
September 2006: EXHIBITION & LECTURE
Seán exhibited and lectured at this year's Westport Arts Festival
Seán contributed some works from his 'Dublin BicyKills' project to the first Dublin Bicycle Festival
July 2006: LECTURE TARRAGONA CATALONIA
Seán gave one of the plenary lectures, on his work, at the 7th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society,on the 8th July in Tarragona, Catalonia (Spain).
The other lecture was given by British novelist Maggie Gee.
May 2006: EXHIBITION
Seán was one of the invited artists at the 2006 Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition
May 2006: EDUCATION PROJECT
Seán took part in Amnesty International Irish Section's "Voice Our Concern" project for Secondary School students.
Here is a web-page with the images.
He worked with a group of students in Deansrath Community College in Dublin.
May 2006: LECTURE NEWCASTLE ENGLAND
Seán gave a presentation on his work to the Annual Conference of A4,
the UK Association for Advice & Support in Art & Design, in Newcastle on 13th May.
December 2005: MAJOR EXHIBITION DUBLIN
Seán's 'troubles' photomontages were the inaugural show in Dublin City Council's new LAB Arts Centre.
The show, comprising over 40 images ran until December 3rd.
The exhibition was opened with a speech by Fintan O'Toole
October 2005: PRESENTATION DUBLIN
Seán made the inaugural presentation to Dublin's new "SEED" art-science salon.
He presented an exhibition and talk to the group on his as-yet-unpublished work in the area of 'lost technology', and some of the artworks he is creating as a result.
September 2005: EXHIBITION: NEW WORK DUBLIN
Five new 'IRELANTIS' coIlages, the first since 1998 were shown in the new Stone Gallery in Dublin.
The show included new work by Seán and Antóin O'Heocha and two prints by Andy Warhol.
update: Three of the collages were acquired for the AIB Bank and one for a private collection.
July 2005: COMMISSION
Seán made a collage for Dublin's"City Arts" organisation.
June 2005 TEXT BOOK PUBLICATION
"The Goddess Appears In Newry.." appears as a full-page chapter opening in a new French schoolbook on 'war and peace in religion':
"Geurres et paix- paix et conflit dans la religion"
Editions Palette, 2005 ISBN 2-915710-14-7
May - August 2005: EXHIBITION FRANKFURT
15 of Seán's IRELANTIS images were in an exhibition: "Contemporary Art From Ireland" at the ECB in Frankfurt.
April 2005: NEW REVIEW:
There was a new review of the Paris exhibition in"CIRCA" , the Irish Art journal.
March-April 2005: EXHIBITION NEW WORK
A previously unseen 'IRELANTIS" collage was in a show at the RHA gallery in Dublin.
April 2005 NEW COLLAGES ADDED
Seven collages were added to the IRELANTIS web gallery.
February 2005: EXHIBITION & PUBLICATION
The "Leabhar Mór" exhibition was in the Glucksman Gallery and Seán's image for the project was on the page on their site
November-December 2004 MAJOR EXHIBITION PARIS
As part of the 'Mois de La Photo', there was a major exhibition in Paris of Seán's 'troubles' work in the Centre Culturel Irlandais.
The exhibition also included a slideshow of Seán's original photographs from the period.
PUBLICATIONS UPDATE
Seán's work was featured in several magazines and on the web:
A full-page image in "Beaux-Arts Magazine", features in "Palace" magazine, "France-Soir", "Le Figaro", "Paris Voice" and in a three-page spread in "Art Actuel" magazine (translated here).
There is an online interview at 3declic.net and it was the front page image and featured in"Art-Of-The-Day.com"
June-November 2004: MAJOR MUSEUM EXHIBITION
Three Seán Hillen photomontage originals were on exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London. The exhibition was called: "OPEN SECRET- Something old, something new - redefining the boundaries of the Art Collection"
and ran until 28th of November '04
October '04 and Feb '05: WEB PUBLICATION
Seán's "Dublin BicyKills" gallery of vandalised bikes was linked from the front pages of VeloVision Online : one contributor says "..the most bloody depressing thing I've ever seen..."
October 2004: NEW BOOK COVER
New book cover: the 'Bóthar' image from the 'Focail.com' project with Ruán Magan is on the cover of "Collision Culture: Transformations in Everyday Life in Ireland' by Kieran Keohane and Carmen Kuhling "
July 2004: PERMANENT PUBLIC SCULPTURE DUBLIN
in Dublin City Centre; a new permanent public sculptural work, in collaboration with Katharine Lamb, in a percent-for-art commission for Dublin City Council.
June 2004: MAJOR TEMPORARY PUBLIC ARTWORK DUBLIN
Seán made a commission for the ReJoyce Festival: click to see more
Co-devising & directing:
Raymond Keane.
The biggest ever projection project in Dublin, in collaboration with Raymond Keane of Barabbas The Company , for whom he'd previously designed 'The Whiteheaded Boy' . The show ran every night at the Millennium Bridge in Dublin, at about 11pm every night until 1am, until 6th July.
Cast: Raymond Keane, Susie Lamb & Marcus Lamb.
2nd camera and additional editing & effects: Tony Kenny.
Production manager for Sean: Katharine Lamb.
Costume: Marie Tierney
Makeup: Joanne Boyle.
Hair: Anna Gronerus
March 2004: COMMISSION DUBLIN
Seán made a 48 x 4 foot banner for the St. Patrick's Festival "Talking Irish" Symposium. using his photographs from the detritus of the Dublin streets.
The banner had a central row of discarded umbrellas, above a row of alternating thrown-away coins and food, and below was alternating vandalised bikes and infinity-twisted bike wheels (see the VACUUM cover below)
Above Right: The whole banner re-formatted.
Below Right: The banner in situ.
March 2004: TV INTERVIEW
Seán did an interview on RTÉ TV's afternoon programme 'Open House' to talk about the banner and his other work. He also showed a prototype of his and Katharine Lamb's new sculpture work (below).
Open House put up a web page article about Sean.
February 2004: COVER ART COMMISSION
Seán produced two cover images for a special Dublin edition: "Down Mexico Way" of "The Vacuum" magazine, published in Belfast by Factotum
One was based on a photo by Seán of a guy in a Dublin street, the other a montage of 9 bicycle-wheels-twisted-into-infinity-symbols from the ongoing but not yet published bicycle project of which an early version is here. (see June 2002 below)
February 2004: WEB PUBLICATION
One of Sean's IRELANTIS collages was on a front page at the new online National Irish Visual Arts Library
January 2004: COVER ART COMMISSION
Seán made an illustration- a montage over a photo of the Super Furry Animals' Gruff, by Myles Claffey, for "Foggy Notions" magazine
August 2003: MAJOR CORPORATE SCULPTURE COMMISSION
Seán made a major sculpture, for Citi-Group in Dublin. There's a webgallery for it here.
You can see the sculpture inside and from outside the atrium of the Citi-Group building on the North Wall Quay in Dublin.
June 2003: NEW BOOK COVER COMMISSION
"Trouble in Paradise,#1" appears on the cover of a major new book: "The Troubles in Ballybogoin: Memory and Identity in Northern Ireland"
William F. Kelleher, Jr.
University of Michigan Press
Cloth 0-472-11169-8
June 2003: NEW CD COVER COMMISSION
Seán made the artwork for a new CD by Katell Keineg. It uses photos by Katell, Clare Langan and Seán.
March 2003: BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN COMMISSION
Seán collaborated with Ruán Magan on 'focail.com, a cultural campaign' with a website and 40 billboards nationwide.
February 2003: IMAGE COMMISSSION
Seán made an contemporary pastiche of Richard Hamilton's "Just What Is It About Today's Home..?" as a publicity shot for Rough Magic Theatre Company's "SHIVER" at the Project Art Centre
2002: IMAGE COMMISSION
Sean made a photoshop & collage image to illustrate a poem in The Great Book of Gaelic, published by Canongate.
June 2002: TV PUBLICATION
A sequence of the Bicykills photos was featured in Ruán Magan's film for the RTÉ TV series 'The Changing Face of Dublin' in May 2002
On 1st. June Dublin Corporation ran this ad. in the Irish Times.
March 2002: WEB COMMISSION
For the Darklight New Media Festival, Seán made a website gallery of 256 photographs he took of discarded umbrellas.
There's also now a new gallery:
people with broken umbrellas
2002: PLAYING CARD DESIGN
Seán contributed a design for a playing card to the Irish Hospice Foundation's Art-Pack project.
June 2001: ADVERTISEMENT DESIGN COMMISSION
Seán produced a set of images for advertisements with McCann-Erickson for the Bank of Ireland.
Hybrid photoshop/collage works, they're pastiches of classic John Hinde Ltd. postcard scenes, with ATM machines in appropriately inappropriate places.
The ads ran again the following summer, in Cara magazine, in Dublin Airport and sea ports.
Top: "Visitors at The ATM At Blarney Castle"
Middle: "Stopping Off at The ATM At a Neolithic Dolmen"
Bottom: "A View of The Bay From a 12th Century Round Tower ATM2001: CD SLEEVE DESIGN
Seán made a sleeve design for his friends in Dacianos