First Place Competition Winner
We are thrilled to announce Marija Petrova as the winner of the Hunt Studio Competition 2024. This stunning piece beautifully captures Irish biodiversity, inspired by local wildlife and museum visits. Particularly influential were Susan O’Byrne’s “Deer with Alphabet Blanket” and the Limestone Statue of the god Thoth as a Baboon.
Inspiration and Concept
The theme of biodiversity led Marija Petrova to create a modular artwork, reflecting the evolving nature of biodiversity. Resources like Biodiversity Ireland and the Irish Wildlife Trust guided the inclusion of various native species.
Artistic Design
The artwork features stamps fitting into various shapes, held together with magnets for flexible configurations. Designed as bookmarks, these templates have curved edges and holes for tassels.
Artist’s Vision
Marija Petrova captures the diversity of Irish species, spotlighting lesser-known flora and fauna alongside familiar ones like the red fox and red squirrel. This piece also highlights the significance of aquatic biodiversity, celebrating the richness of Ireland’s natural heritage.
Second Place Competition Winner
We are proud to present Mary Fahy as the second prize winner of our art competition. Her captivating piece intricately weaves the themes of nature and human impact, creating a thought-provoking commentary on our relationship with the natural world.
Description and Concept
Mary Fahy’s artwork features an abandoned wren’s nest nestled inside an abandoned robin’s nest, clamped in the claw of a discarded science lab retort stand. At the heart of the nest lies an ‘egg’—a silicone make-up applicator.
This piece explores the concept of “cuckooing,” referring to the act of taking over another’s home, drawing parallels to the cuckoo bird’s practice of laying eggs in other birds’ nests.
Inspiration from the Hunt Museum
As a former art student at LSAD, Mary frequently visited the Hunt Museum, finding inspiration in the carved polychromatic virgin and child sculptures, diverse ceramics, exquisite jewelry, and various animal figures. She reflects on the museum’s role as a guardian of cultural and historical artifacts, handling them with reverence and care.
Interpreting the Hunt collection through the lens of biodiversity inspired Mary to create a piece that challenges our perception of nature and our place within it.
Artistic Design and Message
Mary’s sculpture highlights the craft of bird nest-building, using simple, local, biodegradable materials. The retort stand claw symbolizes humanity’s grip on nature, evoking industrialization and our tendency to control and exploit natural resources.
Bringing the nests into the museum context sterilizes and isolates them, echoing how we often treat nature. The silicone ‘egg’ within the nest surprises viewers, representing our overconsumption and the artificiality of modern life.
Connection to the Hunt Collection
Mary finds a deep connection between her piece and several items in the Hunt collection, particularly a Bronze Age incised-groove vase/food vessel from Mitchelstown (HCA 609). This vessel, crafted from clay, mirrors the natural materials of the robin’s nest and evokes memories of her late friend Gaby from Mitchelstown.
Mary’s artwork is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between nature and human influence. It invites us to reflect on our impact and encourages a closer, more respectful relationship with the earth and its wonders.
Third Place Competition Winner
We are excited to announce Eve Murray as the third prize winner of our art competition. Her piece, “Bog Lilies,” beautifully blends historical influences with contemporary environmental themes, creating a compelling tribute to Ireland’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
Description and Concept
“Bog Lilies” is inspired by the vibrant biodiversity that has flourished due to the recent closures of bogs in response to climate change. Eve Murray draws upon her deep connection to the bog and its cultural significance, merging these elements with artistic influences from the Hunt Museum’s collection.
Inspiration from the Hunt Museum
Eve’s frequent visits to the Hunt Museum have always sparked her creativity, particularly the museum’s metal works and tools. The Earthenware pot in the collection, with its distinct colors and glaze, profoundly influenced her work. This historical piece inspired Eve to blend its style with her fascination for the rebirth of biodiversity in the bogs.
Artistic Design and Message
In “Bog Lilies,” Eve masterfully combines traditional aesthetics with modern ecological themes. The artwork reflects the rich colors and textures seen in the Earthenware pot, while simultaneously celebrating the new life emerging from the closed bogs. This piece not only honors the historical significance of the bogs but also highlights the positive environmental impact of their preservation.
Connection to the Hunt Collection
Eve’s work is a harmonious fusion of past and present. By drawing inspiration from the museum’s collection and integrating it with her personal experiences and interests, she creates a dialogue between historical artifacts and contemporary ecological issues. “Bog Lilies” serves as a testament to the enduring connection between art, culture, and nature.
Eve Murray’s “Bog Lilies” is a stunning exploration of Ireland’s evolving landscape, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty and resilience of nature through the lens of cultural heritage.
First Runner Up Prize
We are thrilled to announce Nina Raeside as the first runner-up in our art competition. Her innovative sculptures made from recycled cardboard highlight the pressing issues of the Anthropocene Epoch and our impact on biodiversity.
Description and Concept
Nina’s work, crafted from recycled cardboard, underscores the importance of sustainability in art. By using this versatile medium, she aims to inspire others to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Her sculptures also incorporate cyanotype printing, adding a unique dimension to each piece.
Nina’s work draws attention to the Stock dove, which is currently on the Red conservation status list in Ireland. The population of this bird has significantly declined due to habitat loss and pesticide use, making its plight emblematic of broader environmental issues.
Inspiration from the Hunt Museum
Nina found the Hunt Studio competition theme perfectly aligned with her focus on biodiversity. Her connection to nature, cultivated during early morning walks with her father in Greenan, Co. Wicklow, deeply influences her work. These experiences instilled in her a profound appreciation for the simple, natural wonders that are at risk of disappearing for future generations.
Artistic Design and Message
Nina’s sculptures use the carnation flower in their prints, symbolizing devotion, fascination, and love. This flower choice reflects her passion for nature and the desire to pass this appreciation to her children, just as her father did for her. The calming sound of the Stock dove, a nostalgic memory from her childhood, is a poignant reminder of what is at stake if we fail to protect our environment.
Connection to the Hunt Collection
Nina’s use of recycled materials and cyanotype printing creates a modern yet deeply personal connection to the Hunt collection. Her work embodies a message of conservation and sustainability, urging viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
Nina Raeside’s artwork is a heartfelt call to action, encouraging us to cherish and preserve the simple, beautiful aspects of nature that enrich our lives.
Second Runner Up Prize
We are delighted to announce Holly O’Rahilly as the second runner-up in our art competition. Her captivating piece, “Softness of the Moon, Passion of the Sun,” beautifully captures the intimate connection between a leopard and her environment.
Description and Concept
“Softness of the Moon, Passion of the Sun” depicts a leopard in harmony with her surroundings—the plants, the river, and the moon. This artwork contrasts the gentle illumination of the moon with the leopard’s warm, almost golden hue, symbolizing the fiery life and passion within her.
Inspiration from the Hunt Museum
Holly found inspiration in the Hunt Museum collection, particularly the Leopard’s Head Ornament and the Figure of an Animal (Panther/Leopard). These pieces influenced her portrayal of the leopard, highlighting its regal presence and connection to the natural world.
Artistic Design and Message
Holly masterfully conveys the interconnectedness of nature, portraying the leopard as one with her environment. The soft moonlight that bathes her surroundings contrasts with the vibrant energy embodied by the leopard, reflecting the dynamic balance of tranquility and vitality in the natural world.
The piece emphasizes the harmonious relationship between the leopard and her habitat. The moonlight’s softness highlights the serenity of the natural setting, while the leopard’s golden warmth symbolizes her inner strength and passion. This duality illustrates the powerful bond between living beings and their ecosystems.
Connection to the Hunt Collection
Holly’s work resonates deeply with the Hunt Museum’s collection. The Leopard’s Head Ornament and the Figure of an Animal (Panther/Leopard) served as significant inspirations for her piece. These artifacts, with their intricate details and historical significance, helped shape her portrayal of the leopard. Holly’s artwork draws parallels between these historical objects and contemporary themes of biodiversity and conservation, emphasizing the timeless relationship between art, culture, and nature. “Softness of the Moon, Passion of the Sun” invites viewers to reflect on the profound unity of nature and the importance of preserving these delicate relationships. It serves as a reminder of the intrinsic value of all living beings and their environments.
Prizes & Sponsors
The amazing prizes for the 2024 Hunt Studio Competition were made possible by some very generous contributors:
Dairygold €200
Colin Marsden €250
TUS €500
Niall Greene €100
Dunnes Stores Voucher €2 x 50
Gleesons Shoes Voucher €50
Whelans Camera’s Voucher €75
