By Andy Spearman
Occasionally an exhibition comes along that really appeals. One such exhibition is Olga Duka’s ‘Tend and Befriend’ show at the Droichead Arts Centre. Sadly I couldn’t make the opening because I was in Spain. Typical!
So I went along during the week with my wife Jenny and we had the gallery to ourselves for an hour or so. We didn’t miss the wine, nibbles and chat of opening night.
I’ve seen some of Olga’s work before and was very impressed, she is an extraordinarily talented artist and she has excelled herself with this exhibition which I think is her first solo show.
Olga is originally from Ukraine, she graduated from Kiev College of Decorative Arts and Design in 1997 as a Textile Artist and Designer and that background is evident in the work on display in this exhibition.
The work is certainly decorative but there is a strong statement being made here about women and their reliance on each other. Women are much better at friendships than us men, where we are bolshie and competitive women tend to be more caring and nurturing towards each other.
‘Tend and Befriend’ is about the various relationships in women’s lives and a search for the strength that is to be derived from friendship.
As Droichead puts it in their blurb: “Olga refers to a shared international cultural mythology relating female human nature to the landscape, which, like a forest’s interconnecting trees, creates a ‘tend and befriend’ response to protect its saplings and the health of the species. In its essence this exhibition is a celebration of kindness.”
“This new work places women at the centre of changing seasons and landscapes. The work acknowledges the supportive value of female friendship when adapting to unfamiliar circumstances, environment, mentalities and codes of conduct, both real and imagined. These invaluable relationships offer welcome salve in the face of uncertainty.”
This is a fine collection of work which speaks to the viewer of past experiences and future hopes, a female view of the human condition and all of its frailties as seen through the eyes of an artist who, as well as being a strong individual, is also a wife, mother and friend.
I would strongly recommend a visit to the Droichead Arts Centre in Stockwell Street at any time but perhaps this exhibition calls for more than one visit. Stand and become acquainted with one or two of the pieces at each visit and you will be richly rewarded.
If you’re really lucky you can get to own one for yourself. Judging by the number of red dots on display though, you’ll have to be quick as many people have already made that decision.
Olga Duka has been working as a freelance artist specialising in fine and decorative arts as well as tapestry making and textile design through which she expresses her trans-cultural background through a unique combination of styles that is reminiscent of medieval art.
Herwork has previously been featured in group exhibitions in Ireland, Great Britain, Italy and Ukraine. Her paintings are represented in private collections in Ireland, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, France, Japan, Mexico, USA and Ukraine. Olga recently participated in the Connection project at Droichead.
