Theresa Nanigian: not sorry

‘not sorry’ is an intimate portrait of the Irish teenager and young adult by artist Theresa Nanigian.

At a time when almost everything is on display, unrestricted disclosure is the norm and social networking profiles are updated daily on Facebook, not sorry literally goes behind closed doors into the private territory of the bedroom and seeks to expose the genuine individual beneath the public persona.

Taking its title from one of the responses to a confidential survey, the exhibition combines the personal expression evident on the walls, floors and other surfaces of the bedroom with participants’ frank, and sometimes, brutally honest written expression of their personal identity. not sorry celebrates the complexities of youth and explores how outward signs – be they adornments to one’s habitat or to one’s self – can both corroborate and contradict inner character.

Theresa Nanigian’s practice involves creating portraits of contemporary Western life, be it a profile of a single individual, a catastrophic event or an entire country. These representations often borrow the analytical systems, tools and aesthetics of other disciplines such as social psychology, philosophy, economics and logic.

Nanigian works in installation, moving image, text, drawing, and more recently, photography. Her most recent exhibitions include Counterpoint at Club Row Gallery, London, Travelogue a public art commission, and Apertures & Anxieties at the RHA Gallery, Dublin.

The exhibition not sorry first installed in the Draiocht in Blanchardstown, Dublin, has been especially remade for Highlanes Gallery. Mirroring the wallpaper, posters, magazine cutouts and handwritten messages often plastered on teenagers’ bedroom walls, Nanigian’s photographic images are printed in two forms; the first life size and literally pasted to the gallery walls, and the second in single six foot square panels.

The artists’ growing collection of young people’s candid survey responses accompany the prints, providing a heartfelt voiceover to the interior imagery.

Public Programme:

Artist’s Lecture and Gallery Talk | Saturday 15 February | 2.00pm. Theresa Nanigian will discuss her broader practice, this current exhibition and the theme of portraiture through it.

Gallery Talk | Saturday 22 March | 2.00pm

Writer and psychotherapist Dr Medb Ruane responds to the exhibition and discusses the idea of the portrait in contemporary culture.

Talks and Lectures Booking and Further Information:
Talks & lectures are free, but with an advised donation of €2.
Booking is advised as numbers limited, email Donna-Maria at info@highlanes.ie or Telephone reception on T. (0)41 9803311

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Children’s Mid Term Workshop| 5-8yr olds |Thursday 20 February|11.00am -12.30pm

This Badge Making workshop led by artist Niall de Buitléar focusses on the Theresa Nanigian’s exhibition not sorry where teenagers were asked to express themselves by anonymously finishing the sentence “I am…”. Children on this workshop will be invited to view the exhibition and to discuss words that complete the same sentence for them. The group will then develop designs using these words which will be made using drawing materials, stickers, transfers, and rubber stamps, and these will made into badges using a special badge machine.

See Niall’s badge making in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnJ1uHX6tLo

Children’s Mid Term Workshop| 9-13yr olds| Thursday 20 February|1.30-3.00pm
This T-shirt stencilling workshop led by artist Niall de Buitléar focusses on the Theresa Nanigian’s exhibition not sorry where teenagers were asked to express themselves by anonymously finishing the sentence “I am…”. Older Children on this workshop will be invited to view the exhibition and to discuss words or phrases that complete the same sentence for them. Using stencils and fabric paint children will design and make their own stencil and slogan(s) on a t-shirt.

*As fabric paint will be used children should wear old clothes or bring an apron.
**Children must bring their own plain t-shirt which should be pre-washed to ensure a long lasting stencil.

Teenager and Young People’s Mid Term Workshop | Friday 21 February| 1.30-4.00pm

This Badge Making and Identity Design workshop is led by artist Niall de Buitléar focussing on the exhibition not sorry and will be an introduction to the principles of typography and identity design. In response to the exploration of personal identity in Theresa Nanigian’s exhibition participants will design a logo or monogram to represent themselves. Teenagers will look at how musicians and clothing labels use typography and logos to visually communicate a message and will apply those ideas to create our their own personal logo designs. A badge making machine will be used to produce badges featuring the completed designs.
All participants will be invited to take Nanigian’s survey anonymously.

Workshop Booking and Further Information:

Cost for Children’s Workshops are €5 and Teenagers and Young Peoples Workshops €7
Booking is advised and numbers limited to 20 for each of the three workshops.
Email Donna-Maria at info@highlanes.ie or Telephone reception on T. (0)41 9803311
Please note: Once booked, if you find that you cannot attend, please contact reception, however late, so that your place can be released.

Special Focussed Primary, Second Level and Group Tours:

Cost for Tours are €1 per individual with group leaders free.
Booking is advised, email Donna-Maria at info@highlanes.ie or Telephone reception on T. (0)41 9803311

Free, drop in art activities will take place in the galleries on St Patrick’s Day, Monday 17 March from 12.00-5.00pm

Listings Information:

Exhibition: Theresa Nanigian: not sorry
Venue: Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda
Dates: 15 February -12 April, 2014
Exhibition Opening: 2.00pm Saturday 15 February – the opening will take the form of lecture and gallery talk, see above
Open: 6 days a week, Monday – Saturday 10.30am-5.00pm, closed Sunday
Admission: Free, donations of €2 encouraged
Online: www.highlanes.ie, Twitter: @highlanes FACEBOOK: HighlanesDrogheda