Mary Halpin

About The Artist

Mary Halpin exhibited at The Cut in the 2013 group show, IMPERFECT PRESENT FUTURE PERFECT

This series of works continues my research into the re-structuring of Minimal Art. It embodies the elements of geometric shapes, linear perspectives, repetitions, space and limited use of colour found in the minimalism of the 1960s and 1970s. My Minimal Art of today is, however, very different and asks the viewers to consider the issues outside the work which can only be explained by the backstory.

In this work I am reflecting on the political issues and debate, not initially evident to the viewers, created by the imprisonment of the Shia clinicians in Bahrain who treated the casualties from the uprising against the ruling Sunni Royal Family and Government in 2011 – 2012.

A target in this uprising was the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix fixture, arranged by the Royal Family and the FIA Governing Body. Mary has used the symbol of the circle in this work together with the dark red to reflect, not only on the fixture, but also on the incidents associated with this event. The ramifications for the clinicians were lengthy custodial sentences.