dialogue
Shane Berkery | Artist
January 2025
4 min read
In this dialogue, we delve into the rich intersections of Shane Berkery’s culture, technique, and memory that shape his artistic practice. From the dual influences of his Irish and Japanese heritage to the delicate interplay of realism and abstraction in his work, and Berkery’s aspirations for his art within the contemporary landscape.
Hey Shane. Your work often reflects the duality of your Irish and Japanese heritage. How do these cultural influences shape your approach to storytelling and imagery in your paintings?
“Having my formative years split between the US, Japan and Ireland, the very distinct eastern and western cultures exist within me as two separate modes to experience life through. In painting I feel that I am able to bring the two together, drawing on the different sensibilities and perspectives that each have to offer within the realm of visual language.”
Your art strikes a balance between realism and abstraction. How do you decide which elements of a painting to render in detail versus those to abstract or leave ambiguous?
“I close my eyes and try to conjure the image before painting, I pay close attention to the murky ephemeral vision, and see what details appear clearest in my mind’s eye. These are the parts that I usually render out more in the painting. I also place great emphasis on the painting being honest, and a big part of that is to allow muscle memory of the hand dictate the movement of the brush. By doing so I hope the image reflects an aspect of the unknowable mechanisms within the unconscious mind that give rise to our experience.”
You frequently draw from vintage photographs and other personal archives. How do you select your source material, and what role does nostalgia or memory play in your creative process?
“I started out working from photos that my grandfather took as I was interested in the unique bond between photography and memory. I am still interested in this connection but my focus has shifted to using photography as an active tool to help visualise the fleeting images in my mind. This constructive approach allows me to enter my mundane perceptions and memories into conversation with art history and contemporary culture.”
Your style has evolved significantly over time. How do you see your work developing in the future, and are there any new themes or techniques you are eager to explore?
“I have a few ideas, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens!”
What do you hope your art will say about you to future generations, and how do you think it fits into the broader conversation of contemporary art?
“I hope my work will be perceived to have been a forward progression within the field of painting. My paintings exist within the context of contemporary culture as characterised by digital and visual saturation, and I hope they capture a glimpse of the mood of the times revolving around questions of the individual vs collective.”
Learn more about Shane Berkery
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