Patrick Hickey is a queer Northern Irish painter who explores themes of gender, masculinity, identity, and sexuality in his practice. Currently exhibiting at The MAC Belfast (2022-3) and having previously exhibited at PS2 (2022), An Cultúrlann (2022), the Royal Ulster Academy (2021-2), the Salonathon at Platform Arts (2021) and CCA Derry-Londonderry (2021), Patrick now returns to Platform with his striking and thought-provoking solo show.
A World in a Sea of Darkness features a selection of new works alongside already exhibited works, all made as a part of Patrick’s practice-based PhD research project at Ulster University, Belfast. This exhibition, and Patrick’s research, explores homoeroticism in 20th century painting, with a focus on Irish and Northern Irish art, alongside contemporary painting practices. Northern Irish cultural assumptions consistently weave throughout his art practice, often in subtle and obscure ways, with the male nude figure in a strange, fantastical landscape featuring heavily throughout. The strange, fantastical island found within Patrick’s work is inspired by mythological islands found within Irish mythology, Hy-Brasil and Tír na nÓg, both said to be off the west coast of Ireland. Within this fictionalised reality lies the possibility to give his characters a freedom that cannot be experienced within everyday life.
The Show opens on the 7th of January 2023 with drinks reception sponsored by Reporter Bar @3pm to 6pm.
Gallery Opening Hours: 11am to 4pm Wednesday to Saturday
The Artist Talk will be taking place at Platform on the 28th of January (the closing day of the show)