Consequences of Circumstances
Circumstance literally means that which stands around something.
They are the conditions, scenario and state of affairs that accompanies a situation or event. Circumstances have a past and a present. A particular circumstance is the consequence of a myriad of previous situations and present influences.
Consequences follow from or grow out of previous circumstances. Consequences can be positive, negative and are often unintended. Consequences have a present and a future. They are not just singular occurrences in time but evolve to become consequential for future circumstances.
Throughout our lives, we deal with the good, bad and unintended consequences of decisions, situations we inherited, and random events. Believing one is a victim of circumstance externalises control and accountability and can be detrimental to personal empowerment and the realisation of potential. If we analyse the circumstances in the round, including our own contributions, we will be more effective at creating positive ways forward to avoid or ameliorate negative consequences.
Human behaviour has consequences. The mass killing of sharks for their fins has drastic implications for ocean biodiversity. Our waste pollutes the land, water and the atmosphere affecting the whole world. Melting polar ice, rising sea levels, extreme weather, floods, droughts, heatwaves, wild forest fires, landslides, soil erosion, damage to property and infrastructure, human and wildlife death and displacement, all have consequences that are expected to intensify in the coming decades. Poorer people in developing countries pay the highest price, depending heavily on their natural environment with few resources to cope with the changes.
Political decisions have significant consequences, sometimes unintended, with ramifications for the stability of countries, the environment and individual lives, stretching into the future. Governments apply ideas, commitment and massive funding to dynamic, complex issues and social situations such as war, civil unrest, economic disparity, cultural divisions, education and public health. Thorough risk analysis of probable outcomes, including possible unintended consequences, is extremely complicated but essential. The media have their part to play in explaining, supporting or challenging the government, but now social media has muddied the waters by undermining traditional media outlets and spreading divisive views and conspiracy theories.
On a positive note, in his poem, The Tollund Man Seamus Heaney stated, “The soul exceeds its circumstances.”
Participating Artists
Paul Doran has been described ‘as one of the best artistic talents that have come out of Belfast in years’. Doran’s work is his personal abstraction of contemporary life, painted on canvas. It has its own visual language of landscape, bio-form, mask, visual metaphor and edgy pun. Integrating the unconscious with a consciousness of the present Doran creates images that are challengingly relevant to the social moment. Doran’s art has an impact. Paul says, ‘Belfast always comes into it one way or another, visible or not. You are who you are.’
Jenna Harrison is a multidisciplinary artist who works frequently between textiles, photography, painting and text-based art. Although Harrison does come from a textile and fashion-based background with a Bachelor Degree in Textile Art and Design from the University of Ulster, which was then followed by a Master’s Degree at the University of Arts London in Womenswear Technology and Design, she now works from a more liberated angle using varied mediums. Harrison’s work comes from a place of personal experiences throughout her life, heavily focusing on her romantic and sexual past and present affairs. Her work exudes a raw sense of vulnerability in which she reveals her innermost thoughts and feelings not only focusing on the highs of her romantic experiences but also the ugly truths. These range from the ecstasy of newfound love, lustful endeavours, jealousy, betrayal and heartbreak, that those who view her work can often relate to whether they wish to admit so or not.
Long considered one of our finest painters, Brian Ballard is a rich colourist interested in the contrasting colours and textures found in simple subjects. Painting directly on to the canvas with vigorous brushstrokes, he uses bold splashes of rich colour with fluid paint in which the bristles always leave a mark of their speed and pressure, yet they are subject to a structural order, as well as a pictorial depth.
Brian still lives in his birthplace of Belfast, although he does enjoy spending time in his holiday retreat on the island of Inishfree, off the coast of Donegal, where he looks for, and finds, the beauty in the ordinary things in life – a jug of flowers, arrangements of books, bottles and bowls – often painting them several times in different lighting or from a different viewpoint.
He initially trained at the College of Art in Belfast, before developing his craft at the College of Art, Liverpool. Returning to his native city in 1966 he worked for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for twenty years before leaving to concentrate on painting full time, a decision he never regretted.
Brian is a member of the Royal Ulster Academy of the Arts. His work is held in many significant public and private collections including the Ulster Museum, Crawford Municipal Gallery, An Comhairle Ealaion, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Trust, Ulster Television, Belfast Education and Library Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, Waterford Wedgwood, Conrad International Hotel, Irish Intercontinental Bank, Irish Embassy in London, and the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Lisa Ballard is an artist living and working in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of Cathedral studios of which she is a founding member, setting up in 2003 with a group of friends upon graduating, to provide space for themselves and other artists.
Cathedral Studios is based on Donegall Street Belfast, since its establishment the organisation now a recognised charity for supporting the arts, has housed many creative practitioners specialising in a wide range of disciplines. The studio has evolved and grown over the past 18 years, consistently adapting to meet individual members’ needs. Hosting exhibitions, public events including open studios and taking part in Belfast Culture night.
Lisa is a painter but has also explored printmaking in the past. Since attending the University of Ulster, Belfast College of Art, Lisa has received several awards for her work and is included in several collections including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Office of Public Works Ireland. Lisa has exhibited in places such as Belfast, Dublin, London, Holland and Los Angeles. In 2017 she was awarded associate membership of the Royal Ulster Academy in Northern Ireland.
Ruairi Fallon is a Belfast born London based Artist. His work explores socio-political themes around heritage, personal and collective memory, housing and the domestic among others. He explores these themes through a variety of mediums including painting, print-making and sculpture.
Ruairi moved to London in 2011 to study for a Foundation Diploma at Camberwell College of Arts and continued with a BA (Hons) in Illustration, graduating with a First-Class Honours.
Ruairi had his first solo show, A fork in the road at AMP Gallery in October of 2020. He was awarded the emerging artist award from the Jackson Painting prize in 2018 and exhibited his woodcut prints at the royal academy summer exhibition this year.
Ruairi works from his studio in South London, working and experimenting on simultaneous works. He is one of three in collective F.A.F, creating large-scale site-specific installation works, and is also an active member of CRIT CLUB, a supportive artist network meeting monthly to critique projects and practice.
