“I create paintings that explore work and the human experience of working. My artwork focuses on the routines, pressures, and expectations that shape everyday life, often highlighting how work can become repetitive, exhausting, or overwhelming. Alongside this, my paintings include a quieter subplot about the importance of free time. I am interested in the contrast between moments of labour and moments of rest, and how rare and meaningful unstructured time can be. These moments are shown as pauses, empty spaces, or shifts in mood that suggest relief, reflection, or freedom. They represent the human need to exist beyond constant responsibility. I use paint, colour, and composition to emphasise repetition and structure within work environments, while allowing freer marks and softer elements to appear in scenes of rest. This contrast mirrors the tension between obligation and personal time. Through my work, I hope viewers reflect on their own relationship with work and consider the value of rest as an essential part of being human.” Diarmuid Breen, 2026.
More on Mon 5 Oct |
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