Conor McGrady

The work, which primarily consists of painting and drawing, is focused on the role of authority in contemporary society. In particular I am interested in how power manifests in individuals and nation states and how it translates into symbols, iconography, actions and a sense of selfhood. Monumental gouache drawings depict groups of anonymous figures relaxing or performing social rituals as a unit, their sense of cohesion a bulwark against an unseen enemy, or collective triumph over unseen victims. Smaller works explore the relationship of the artist to the state, or examine neo-classical architecture as a signifier of order, permanence and stability. The aim of all the work is to explore the various manifestations of social order and raise questions relating to the control of space, personal and national boundaries.