Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is proud to present Picture This! Imagine That! – The Voyages of St Brendan—a unique art exhibition running from May 14-16—at MIC Limerick.
The event is hosted in association with the Irish Institute of Catholic Studies at MIC, and features an immersive installation by Dr Nora Donnelly —visual artist, art critic and former lecturer in Art Education at MIC—who reimagines the legendary journey of St Brendan through soundscape and spatial experience.
Her work is inspired by 28 original watercolour paintings by Italian artist Daniel de’ Angeli. He was inspired to create the series after discovering a small book on St Brendan in a Dingle bookshop, which had a profound effect on him. Renowned for his striking watercolour paintings, de’ Angeli’s Voyage of St Brendan series vividly brings the Saint’s legendary journey to life.
United by the energy and wonder of St Brendan, their shared artistic vision invites viewers to reflect on the spiritual, cultural and contemporary meaning of his journey through both sight and sound. Together, their work creates an engaging experience that blends visual storytelling with immersive design.
Dr Nora Donnelly commented that she was “blown away when I first saw De’ Angeli’s work. I was so moved and inspired that I decided to make some art that would call on its substance as well as its heart and spirit and bring it into another area, winding it in and out of sound”.
“I included the moods of the ocean and the chanting of monks as well as sounds from all areas and levels of contemporary life in my Installation. In this, the spectator will become conscious of the presence of St Brendan; will feel his fear both in the terrifying might of storm and in the listlessness and gloom that the doldrums bring. As this occurs the personhood of Brendan becomes palpable, and the spectator begins to share in his remarkable voyage.”
Dr Patricia Kieran, Director of the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies at MIC, welcomed the exhibition and highlighted its cultural and spiritual significance.
“We are honoured in Mary Immaculate College to host this beautiful, evocative and inspiring multimedia exhibition consisting of Daniel De’ Angeli’s 28 original paintings and Nora Donnelly’s immersive soundscape. The three day-exhibition will be launched by Mark Patrick Hederman OSB on 14 May and concludes on St Brendan’s feast day, 16 May. We hope to welcome members of the public to come and experience this free event at the heart of Limerick City and to explore the contemporary relevance of Brendan’s voyage, his spiritual thirst and profound courage.”
The exhibition will be officially opened in the Main Foyer of the Foundation Building at the College on Wednesday 14 May at 4pm by Mark Patrick Hederman, OSB, Academic Dean of Glenstal Abbey. It will be open to the public until 16 May. The College gratefully acknowledges the Pierse family of Listowel, owners of the paintings, for generously making them available for this exhibition.
The exhibition was displayed in the Siamsa Tíre in Tralee last year and on Monday 25 May, it opens in An Díseart in Dingle.
In the autumn, Dr Donnelly's exhibition (not featuring De’ Angeli’s watercolours) will be shown in St Louis University in Missouri, USA.
