John Behan

October 7th - 28th 2014

I had the good fortune to encounter John Behan’s sculpture for the first time nearly fifty years ago in the Project Arts Centre and

have remained an enthusiast of his work ever since. A frequent and faithful exhibitor at the Lavit Gallery over the years, he returns now with a one-man show dedicated to the memory of Gerald and Sheila Goldberg – great patrons of his work.

Leopold Bloom, Jewish Ireland and international Jewish culture have been a recurring theme of his work. I am sure that both Gerald and Sheila Goldberg would be particularly moved by the range and diversity of the images and themes in this challenging exhibition.

His portrait of Vincent Van Gogh is a delight as is also his depiction of Pat O’Connell, of English Market fame, meeting Queen Elizabeth of England. As a proud Corkman and former Lord Mayor of the city, Gerald Goldberg, he would have been uplifted to witness that seminal event in Anglo-Irish relations. Now, the light-hearted moment, the photo of which went round the world, is immortalized in bronze. I hope a larger version will one day soon grace the English Market.

This exhibition also records a dark period in the mid-nineteenth century in Irish history and in Anglo-Irish relations. There is a semi-abstract famine ship which might also be a contemporary metaphor for the many boats of refugees, victims of persecution and migrants putting to sea as I write in the forlorn hope of finding a safe haven. John’s National Famine Memorial, ‘Famine Ship’ at Murrisk, Co. Mayo, and his ‘Arrival,’ in the United Nations Plaza, New York, are much more powerful than the pen of the historian in capturing the human disaster that is Famine.

John Behan’s exhibitions are always different. His images evoke a range of emotions, never failing to educate, shock, challenge, delight, raise the spirits and make one smile.

Dr. Dermot Keogh, MRIA Emeritus Professor of History, UCC

Image on front cover:

Man with Fish (Me and the Mudder-in-Law), Bronze Unique, 44 x 22 x 18cm

Image on back cover:

Angular Bull IIBronze Unique, 23 x 34 x 11cm

Two Jewish Musicians,

Bronze Unique, 31 x 25 x 17cm

Angular Bull I

Bronze Unique, 23 x 35 x 10cm

Nightboat

Bronze Unique, 27 x 29 x 21cm

Centaur

Bronze Unique, 39 x 35 x 17cm

Van Gogh

Bronze Unique, 39 x 19 x 14cm

Indusbull

Bronze Unique, 24 x 28 x 12cm

Famine Tree

Bronze Unique, 37 x 35 x 33cm

Coracle

Bronze, Edition of 9, 20 x 21 x 13cm

Cubist Famine Ship

Bronze Unique, 31 x 29 x 15cm

Woman with Dove

Bronze Unique, 21 x 13 x 12cm

Broighter Boat Polished edition, 24 x 16 x 15cm

OPENING TIMES: Tues. to Sat. 10.30 - 6.00pm 5 Father Mathew Street, Cork. (next to RTÉ) T. 021 4277749 E. thelavitgallery@eircom.net

The Lavit Gallery is a Not-For-Profit Gallery run by Cork Arts Society.

CATALOGUE SPONSORS:

Thomas J O’Brien & Associates Consulting Engineers Limited

ARUP Consulting Engineers

www.lavitgallery.com