Melissa's new art exhibition
Nenagh launch on December 4
Ireland and Australia might share a deep cultural bond, but the contrasting landscapes of each country are worlds apart. So, what happens when these landscapes collide, when the dusty Australian outback meets the dark, sodden terrain of the bog? Or when the forestry of the Bush meets the meadows of the Irish countryside?
A new exhibition, produced and curated by well-known Birdhill artist and creator Melissa Ryan, seeks to explore and express this contrast.
A former fashion designer who hails from Australia, Melissa was born with a creative flair. She graduated from a leading Australian fashion design school and went on to forge an impressive career in the industry. Ultimately, she ended up working with O’Neills Sportswear, which brought her to Ireland. Love made her stay permanent, and she put down roots in North Tipperary.
Melissa says her work is shaped by two “deeply personal” landscapes - the farm on which she now lives, and the Australian outback, commonly known as the Bush, where she grew up.
Her showcase, entitled “Bush Meets Meadows”, features a variety of prints and handcrafted textiles, inspired by the “spirit of the animals and the quiet rhythm of rural life.” Her creations are vivid and colourful, and depict everything from the flora and fauna of the Blue Mountains outside Sydney to the animal life that characterises her countryside home in Coosane, Birdhill. Despite having fallen in love with Ireland, she hasn’t lost her connection to her native Australia, which she last visited back in August.
One of the more unique aspects of her upcoming exhibition is the incorporation of "wearable art”, which Melissa specialises in. This subset of her work includes items of clothing and material on which images are pencilled or appliquéd. All materials used are ethically and sustainably sourced, emphasising Melissa’s commitment to environmental production and artistic integrity.
The core objective of her exhibition - which will be launched in Nenagh Arts Centre at 7pm on December 4 - is to merge features of rural life in Ireland and Australia and showcase them to the broader public. Melissa, a passionate artist who works with Tipperary ETB and has her own website, CoosaneCreations.ie, hopes the exhibition will enhance people’s appreciation of the beauty of the Irish and Australian countryside, and how they complement one another.