I’m thrilled to be the winner of the Merrion Plinth Award 2024 from The Merrion Hotel, Dublin with a painting made on my recent residency at Áras Éanna Arts Centre on Inis Oírr, Aran Islands.
I was at a reception in the hotel on the 27th June where the winner was announced.
Huge thank you to the Merrion Hotel and to judges Lochlann Quinn Chairman of The Merrion, Patrick Murphy, Director RHA and Oonagh Young, Gallerist/Designer. And to Áras Éanna Arts Centre of course, without the residency providing the inspiration the painting wouldn’t exist.
The painting can now be viewed in the hotel by the Garden Restaurant.
Oonagh Young, Cecilia Danell and Patrick Murphy.
Merrion Hotel press release:
Congratulations to Cecilia Danell who was announced as the winner of the 2024 Merrion Plinth Award on the evening of June 27th 2024.
The title of Cecilia’s work ‘The Farthest Shore’, can be viewed just outside The Garden Room Restaurant. Danell is the third successful artist of this biennial contemporary art prize which was established in 2019 to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Merrion Hotel. This prize aims to directly support contemporary artists with a prize fund of €5,000, and the winning work will be on view in the hotel for two years amongst its significant collection of late 19th century and early 20th century Irish and European Art.
The award-winning oil on canvas painting ‘The Farthest Shore’ captures an entire landscape devoid of trees but brimming with life. The smooth rock formations below the tide line and the loose rocks softened by the rolling waves beside the Plassey shipwreck resonated through the accidental juxtaposition of man and nature. The judges were particularly impressed with Danell’s accomplished use of colour to portray an atmosphere evocative of the west while managing to accentuate particular forms to near abstraction.
Cecilia Danell is an artist based in Galway and originally from Sweden. Her painting practice is based on research into landscapes combined with the psychology of place and a strong interest in materiality evident in her striking use of colour. Danell recently completed a residency in Áras Éanna Arts Centre on Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands.
Cecilia was presented with the prize of €5,000 by Mr Lochlann Quinn, Chairman of the Merrion at a reception in the hotel this evening.
The Farthest Shore, oil and acrylic on canvas, 110×140 cm, 2024.
