“St. Liam” painting not about glorification
glo·ri·fy (glôr-f, glr-)
tr.v. glo·ri·fied, glo·ri·fy·ing, glo·ri·fies
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
2. To cause to be or seem more glorious or excellent than is actually the case: Your descriptions have glorified an average house into a mansion.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
A controversial artwork by Ennis artist Martin Shannon, and given the title “A saint for Sinners” will appear in a major Limerick art exhibition this Friday.
But curator of the exhibition Gavin Hogg has told the Limerick Chronicle that the piece is not about glorification.
“As this is an image that has been lifted from the press and reproduced countless times, it says alot about the press itself. Moreso it’s a comment on how people from different backgrounds perceive people from our society.”
The artwork is a reproduction of what has become a somewhat iconic photograph of Liam Keane which was taken as he left the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, following the collapse of a murder trial where he was accused of killing 19 year old Eric Leamy.
The trial ended in a Nolle Proseque in November 2003 after witnesses denied making statements implicating him in the murder.
It is not known whether or not the artist was involved in any consultation with Eric Leamy’s family before producing the artwork.
For those interested in seeing the work, first hand, they can do so from Friday at the Thinkk Creative Gallery on Cecil Street from October 5th to November 2nd.