Artist Joe Dunne tells Aidan Dunne that when painting goes well, he gets into a meditative state and is out of time, in infinity, or perhaps in no time at all
Aidan Dunne: Your studio here in Ballinteer is next to your house but separate from it. The place is suburban, but elevated, towards the Dublin Mountains – and Marlay Park. Nature is close by.
Joe Dunne: Yes, closeness to the landscape is important to me.
AD: The title of one of your shows, ‘Bruach’, referred to that in-between urban/rural location. Landscape has been a dominant source of inspiration for you, though your work has changed significantly as you’ve gone on, including a shift from representation to abstraction.
JD: Yes, it has. I’m sure people looking at it have asked themselves, ‘What is this guy doing?’ But I think change is good.
AD: There are consistencies in your work too – your generally mellow colour palette with natural earth colours and even-tempered colour relationships within the paintings. A certain temperament – quiet, somewhat cool. Still life has been a constant as well.
JD: I’ve continually veered back to still life because, in a way, still life has everything: abstraction, colour, form, relationships.
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