Kildare artist brings history into colour

RISING Kildangan artist, Aoife Cawley, draws inspiration for her work from history, folklore and mythology, breathing new life into ancient stories through bright-coloured, contemporary printwork and textiles.

Aoife’s work has been exhibited in Ireland and the UK and has been featured in Irish media, such as her recent video interview with Her.ie which received a lot of online attention.

The acclaimed artist has already completed two residencies in her early career and recently received an award for a residency in Florence scheduled for this year.

Not always an artist, but always a creative, Aoife got to where she is today in what she called “a roundabout way”.

After school, Aoife studied French, Irish and German at University Limerick but ultimately left the course after two years. She decided to stay living in Limerick to be close to friends.

After a lot of encouragement, Aoife decided to apply to art colleges in Scotland and eventually landed a place in Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design.

“Because it was Covid, I spent two years at home doing online university and then I moved over to Scotland at the start of third year. I studied contemporary art practice and I just graduated last May.” 

Throughout her journey, she blended her love for history, particularly medieval, with her creative side, and often draws on period stories in her work through a bright, neon colour scheme.

If the monks had a chance to use neon, they would have been using it,” she said.

“I’m just really drawn to the neon colours, but I do think it works in a way because back in the day all of these statues, their churches, their clothes would have been so brightly coloured and we kind of forget how colourful it was. Things lose their paint over time.” 

Much of Aoife’s inspiration is drawn directly from historical sources and artefacts, which means that research is a huge step in her creative process.

She explained: “I never have the same day. I’m always off doing mad things. I can be like, right I’m going to France on a research trip. I’m really grateful that I can do this.” 

“It’s one thing seeing something on your phone, but actually going to places and seeing them – and I know this makes me sound absolutely crazy bananas – but you can feel something,” she continued.

“You have to go and see them in real life. You need to touch history, you need to feel history.” 

An important part of her work lies in the documentation of history, all while making it accessible to more people.

Her motivation for this has roots in her love for the Irish language and culture as a whole, and particularly local Kildare culture as she celebrates the widely venerated St Brigid in her art.

By that token, her art acts as a modern preservation and appreciation of Irish history and culture.

She said: “I think I’m trying to document the past but also trying to make it more accessible for people.” 

“I love history and I love reading about it but sometimes these things are written so inaccessibly.

“I think history is for everyone. It shouldn’t just be for these academics.

“I feel if you understand your country’s history, you’ll understand the importance in the culture and the language.” 

Reminiscing on her journey so far, Aoife advises others wanting to pursue art to prepare to work hard.

“If I was to go back and tell a teenagers about being an artist I would say it's not quite as easy as it seems.

“I could go on for ages and give out about our college and how we weren’t shown how to apply for any funding, where to get funding, how to get these jobs.

“I’m lucky I went on when I was a bit older so I had a bit more cop on and I’d known people that had gone through before me so I had an idea.

“I think to get there you have to work quite hard, but it is possible.” 

To view some of Aoife's incredible artwork and textiles, visit Aoife’s website at aoifecawleyart.com.