Niall Dooley

Lives and works in Berlin, Germany

Artist statement

I make figurative paintings and drawings with a strong emphasis on line and composition. The images are built around figures, gestures and familiar objects, arranged to create a sense of narrative. I want them to be direct and visually engaging while leaving room for different readings. My approach draws on figurative illustration, medieval imagery and aspects of Soviet-era public painting. I am also interested in the visual language of signs: reduced backgrounds, clear outlines and elements given a particular function within the composition. Symbolism is central to the work. Figures, gestures and objects bring with them meanings and associations formed through culture and everyday experience. By selecting and combining these elements, I try to create a synthesis in which their different associations come together as a visual narrative. These narratives often reflect on human behaviour, how people live together, and the tensions and contradictions of contemporary life.

Artwork