Impact of Modern-day Tech on Society at Centre of New Art Exhibition at dlr Lexicon

What impact do rapidly advancing ICT technologies have on modern-day society? What are the environmental consequences associated with economic growth? How will climate change and a weakening Gulf Stream affect Ireland?

These are among the questions at the centre of a new art exhibition at the dlr LexIcon, which was launched by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (dlr) Arts Office today.

‘Landscapes and Oddities’ is the first solo exhibition by artist Dave Madigan and features large-scale paintings, wide vistas and aerial views of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider Dublin area, as well as a large sculpture, which is inspired by the masts and riggings visible in Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

By prominently positioning objects such as circuit boards, transmission towers, and other electronic equipment in his paintings, Madigan transforms familiar Dublin locations into surreal scenes populated with oversized and overrepresented technological components. The relationship between the natural world and the built environment forms a second thematic strand to Madigan’s paintings.

Modern-Day Society

Speaking at the exhibition launch, Dave Madigan said: “Information and communications technologies have entirely changed the world we live in and are the leading drivers of all aspects of modern-day society. This has resulted in more efficiency but also comes with unforeseen consequences.

These include for example, effects on the functioning of democracies, the commercialisation of personal data and privacy intrusions, the rapid growth of disinformation campaigns, mass surveillance, and countless other social, financial and political impacts. In my paintings, I show the hardware of this global integrated network overlaid on familiar local landscapes, depicting an urban environment indistinct from electronic information flows.”

‘Landscapes and Oddities’ is the result of the dlr Visual Art Commission, which was awarded to Dave Madigan in 2022. The commission gives artists the opportunity to create a new body of work that is responsive to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. It is funded by the Arts Council and supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan, said: “Dave Madigan paints recognisable landscapes of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County and some of the wider Dublin area with curiosity and inventiveness, presenting us with new interpretations and meanings to our familiar surroundings. Madigan’s painterly skill and expertise is extraordinary, and his paintings highly evocative.”

Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Frank Curran, added: “The Council was delighted to award the dlr Visual Art Commission to Dave Madigan last year, and we are proud to now host his first solo exhibition with the resulting body of work. We are very grateful to the Arts Council for funding this commission and encourage everyone to visit this exceptional exhibition at dlr LexIcon.”

‘Landscapes at Oddities’ opens at the Municipal Gallery, dlr LexIcon in Dún Laoghaire tomorrow, 14th September 2023 and runs until Sunday, 26th November 2023 (closed 28th – 30th October). Admission is free of charge. Alongside the exhibition, dlr Arts Office will run a programme of accompanying talks, workshops and events. For further details, visit dlrcoco.ie/arts.