Re:New Wallace #2

Vincent McDonnell’s ‘The Hope Bell’ is the second collaboration between Lisburn’s R –Space Gallery and The Wallace Collection in London. McDonnell’s new work is a response to the Collection, which is housed in 25 galleries and comprises French 18th Century painting, furniture and porcelain. Following a week long residency in December, the artist recalled inspiration striking as soon as he entered the Collection galleries:  

“My attention was immediately drawn to the small medieval bell shrine of St Mura…  on this occasion the bell shrine had been given pride of place as part of ‘Richard Wallace - The Collector' exhibition, Hertford House, London, marking the 200th birthday of Sir Wallace in 1818”.

The purpose of the residency, and latterly the exhibition, is to provide the opportunity for a Northern Irish artist/maker to create work in residency in the extraordinary environment that the Collection offers and ultimately to produce new commissioned signature works for potential future exhibition at R-Space Gallery and also to be offered for sale through the Wallace Collection shop.

This is a chance to celebrate and promote the creativity of a Northern Irish artist and help place Lisburn, and its history, more firmly on the creative and cultural map.

McDonnell’s “The Hope Bell” comes from that instant fascination with the Collection’s bell. It was initially a church bell in Fahan, County Donegal, where it had been an integral part of the lives of the local community. The bell was sold on through the poverty of its keeper, until it came, silenced, the clapper long lost, to the Wallace Collection, bought by Richard Wallace himself.   

The exhibition will see McDonnell exhibit a set of ceramic bells which relate to different elements in the Wallace collection. The title, “The Hope Bell”, refers to Wallace’s personal motto: “Esperance” or “Hope”.

As the artist says: “Wallace often used his wealth to give hope to others, providing water fountains at a time of desperate need in Paris, building schools and repairing churches. He made hope his motto, but more importantly than that, he made it his practice, giving hope to others. Lisburn is testament to this.

“The Hope Bell” does recall Wallace, his motto and his benevolence, but ultimately it does not point to Wallace nor to his works, but it would rather remind us of its original intent - a call to turn aside, to worship and to come to prayer, to find a hope that transcends what this world and this life have to offer.”

Supported by ACNI National Lottery

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Vincent was born in West Sussex but grew up and has spent most of his life in Northern Ireland. He qualified from the Art & Design College, Belfast, with a degree in Graphic Design, specialising in illustration and silk-screen printing. Following this he worked as a freelance illustrator, drawing tutor and graphic designer before changing direction for a time to study theology. In 2001 he returned to work as a full-time professional artist.

His main area of interest is portraiture and figurative work using with various media. More recently he has become emersed in ceramics. He has developed his art in several directions. He often includes elements of symbolism and surrealism in his paintings and enjoys working from memory and imagination. His enjoyment and exploration of art making is such that he refuses to be tied down to any particular style.

Artists Website