My recent series of paintings‘ not yet saved’ were exhibited in a solo show at Ballinglen Gallery in Ballycastle, Co Mayo in August 2021. The work aims to capture both the preciousness and fragility of the peatlands landscape in the west of Ireland where I live. Together with their titles, the paintings reference the connection with the global climate and ecosystem crisis and the challenge of environmental sustainability.
Through the use of colour and symbols the paintings allude to the unique features of the landscape, its atmosphere, preservation of history and its slow growth yet rapid destruction due to turf cutting, commercial peat extraction, afforestation, drainage, burning.
But they also pay homage to the cultural and heritage importance of the bog, and highlight its relevance as a metaphor for a disappearing way of life.
Email: jokillalea@gmail.com
Instagram: jokillalea
Website: http://www.jokillalea.com
fragility 
preserved 
footings 
crisis 
ancient ground 
extracted 
consequences 
digging 
not saved 
ceide fields 3 
earth matters 
cut and dried 
homeland
contentious terrains 
laid out 
stressed 
not yet saved
Jo Killalea 