Undersong: Tim Meagher

published Oct 10, 2007
Undersong Tim Meagher
Tim Meagher uses his own visual language in a refreshing way to create innovative art forms.

His work is expressive, dynamic and thoughtful; it draws upon his own experiences as well much wider issues.

This exhibition celebrates Meagher's work from the 1980s to the present day.

It shows how he has developed from making boxes to paintings and sculptural pieces.

A recurrent theme throughout is our relationship with the environment.

This theme is conveyed through pictorial symbolism, for example, a plane or car which is juxtaposed with the beauty of a landscape feature which recalls his time spent in Australia and New Zealand.

More recent work shows the influence of Spanish culture, especially Flamenco.

Recycled materials are used as well, for example packaging forms the 'canvas' for Portrait of Romy, 2003.

In terms of art historical influences, Meagher sites artists such as Jean-Michel Basquait as inspirational.

Meagher began making leather boxes in the early 1980s.

He was attracted to the flexibility of leather as a material - it can be cut, carved, incised, bent, stitched and painted.

Making something which could be functional and express ideas appealed as well.

His boxes challenge the defining line between craft and fine art and their decoration is a modern take on ancient myths, for example Orpheus and Eurydice.