Visual Art: Nickie Hayden’s Settling the Past at the LAB Gallery, Dublin

Visual artist Nickie Hayden brings together paintings, sculptures and written word for her new exhibition, Settling the Past, which runs until Sunday, 4th March in the LAB Gallery.

Reflecting on personal experiences of pain, abuse, bereavement and a lifelong struggle with literacy, Hayden recognises the role painting has played in expressing her emotions in the past.

Through the past year, taking part in a programme for Adult Dyslexics, she has found the intense experience of working through language has to be particularly cathartic. For this new work, Hayden explores the everyday difficulties and historic traumas experienced by people who have been affected by dyslexia and the trauma caused by abuses of power. The exhibition itself seeks to create a space of calm, a settling space, evoking the peace the artist has found through painting and a feeling of empowerment through words.

Nickie Hayden, a Dublin based visual artist has undertaken mentoring by Director of Mermaid Arts Centre Niamh O’Donnell. With support from Niamh, Nickie has begun to expand her practice to work collaboratively with people who have invisible disabilities through the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.

Nickie’s mentoring was facilitated by an Arts and Disability Connect award in 2017. The ADC scheme is funded by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and managed by Arts & Disability Ireland. It offers artists the opportunity to connect with other practitioners or venues, make a change in their practice, ‘step up’ in terms of scope and scale, reach new audiences and to engage in mentoring and training.

http://www.dublincityartsoffice.ie/the-lab/exhibitions/nickie-hayden-settling-the-past