Dylan is ainm dom…, Oil on Board with Neon Light, 120 x 120 cm

This is a portrait depicting a young man who happens to be transgender.

This work explores the contemporary concerns of self-identity in modern Ireland. To date the representation of any LGBTQ+ culture has been repressed and hidden. As Irish society moves toward a more liberal future, we are expanding on what it means to be Irish. We are starting to see gender beyond what is simply assigned to us at birth. Individuals like Dylan are at the forefront of an important era in our history. This portrait is not only a declaration about self-identity, but it is also about national identity.

Dylan’s setting is a park near his home in Lucan, Co. Dublin. The context of a familiar landscape gives the sitter an immediate connection to his heritage. By using a medium such as oil paint it extends this sense of tradition, yet the use of bold neon implies an ‘otherness’. It holds the shape of the natural landscape yet is set apart. This juxtaposition is not unlike how queer culture has developed outside wider society. It has its own language and customs but still weaves into the fabric of our society.

In the pursuit of a more equal Ireland, the acknowledgement and embrace of the minority is necessary for our progression as a society.

Shortlisted for Zurich Portrait Prize 2018

Crawford Art Gallery Permanent Collection