A new exhibition opening later today in Derry’s Millennium Forum will showcase work of talented local artist Tommy Long and feature a series of dramatic new pieces focusing on urban scenes the city.
Tommy Long.
The launch of Going Back takes place at 6.30pm this evening as part of the Forum’s Undiscovered series and will run until 7 December.
Guest speakers will be Noelle McAlinden, Arts in Education Advisor with the Culture Company and Curator of the London Street Gallery, and Dr Art Hughes,
Tommy’s paintings capture local figures set against a backdrop of gritty urban landscapes, and the large scale canvases use collage to represent the artists’ most vivid childhood experiences, as the artist explained.
“The paintings and prints are basically based on memories of my own childhood, and youth,” he said.
‘The people I like to paint are ‘my people’. When I find a character I want to paint I create a dreamlike fragmented environment for them to dwell in, and the background will usually be a collage of up to 20 different images.”
Tommy said he was delighted to be showing his work this year as there was `’so much going on.”
He added:.“It’s a fantastic time for visual arts in the city with the Turner prize being here and to have people talking about art is fantastic! I feel it’s extra special for me to have the opportunity to exhibit in my own town – after all the work is both about and for the people of Derry.”
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