An exhibition has opened in Sligo to celebrate the life and work of renowned Irish sculptor Fred Conlon.
The Hamilton Gallery is marking the 20th anniversary of his death with an array of sculptural pieces alongside those of his son, Finn.
The artist worked in stone, bronze and wood and his output was prolific.
The exhibition will feature an array of bronzes of commissioned public and private works from Fred's career up until his death in 2005. Fred Conlon carried out renowned public and private commissions across Ireland, as well as in India and Japan.
Caiseal Óir is a sculpture opposite Bunratty Castle to commemorate the opening of the N18 bypass in November 1992.
A native of Easkey, Fred was responsible for establishing the Art Department at IT Sligo - now ATU Sligo and he supported generations of young artists in the region.
His son Finn has followed in his footsteps and this is his first solo exhibition in Sligo, and the first time he has exhibited his sculpture alongside the work of his father.
"Sculpture is in my DNA, rooted in mythological stories told by my father of Ireland's ancient past along with visiting cathedrals, museums and art galleries across many European cities during family holidays."
Currently Finn works under the stewardship of sculptor Helen O'Connell. As part of their Fellowship Duo, their collaborative sculptural works will be exhibited for the House of Switzerland, during the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2025.
'Unravelling the Spiral' is a book by Jack Harte on the life and work of Fred Conlon. A documentary of the same name has now been made. Both works show how Fred saw the spiral in nature, in a sea shell, in the galaxies, in mysticism, and in ritualistic art dance.
He was uniquely able to explore such concepts through his participation in sculpture workshops in India, Japan, Scotland and in his native County Sligo.
Fred Conlon died in 2005 from a brain tumour and his family have gifted the model of 'Spiral' 1989, to Beaumont Hospital to commemorate the thousands of patients with brain tumours who have " journeyed" there since it opened in 1987.
The sculptor wanted to showcase the reality of what it is like not to be able to use your hands, where those same hands are your livelihood.
"The work I create is physical, it is an invitation to a circle in space: to touch, to sense, to contemplate. Sculpture is my mantra - a celebration of life and time."
In a quote from his diary in 2004, the year before he died, Fred said: "My work has been in conjunction with the spiral. The centre is everything. There is nothing without a point of energy.
"There is in nature and man a great centre of force …..for me, what matters now is to be part of that continuity, the second dance of the spiral.
"My energies are going into a positive flow. This will give me courage and sustenance. I need to have a power greater than myself."
The exhibition runs until 1 March.
