Cork artist: 25 years abroad... but I still miss home

FOR Cork-reared artist, Olivia O’Keeffe, based in The Netherlands, the saying ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ very much applies to her.

Originally from Watergrasshill, and living in Houten, near Utrecht, for more than 25 years, Olivia says the Irish landscape is still a big influence on both her paintings and her poetry.

Her art work, along with that of Martina Furlong (from Wexford) and Marja van Kampen (from The Netherlands) is on show at Kinsale Library until March 26.

“Having grown up in the Cork countryside, I have always had a strong connection with the land and continue to miss it while living abroad,” says Olivia.

Many of my abstract paintings are inspired by a yearning for the land, combined with memories of the sea, the mountains and the valleys.

“Being away from it has always been sad for me, although I can see with family and friends living back home that they enjoy it but also take it for granted.”

Olivia, married to a Dutchman and mother to two teenage sons, explains that the collaborative exhibition, Meanderings of a Colourful Mind, is her initiative. The exhibition has been touring around the country to five other galleries. As a result of living abroad, and despite occasional exhibitions in Ireland, she felt disconnected from the Irish art scene.

The exhibition has been to Wicklow, Tipperary, Wexford and Clare. After Kinsale, it will go to Mountmellick Library in Laois.

There is a similarity in the vivid colours that the three artists sometimes use in their work; bright greens, blues, orange, yellow and pinks.

Olivia has two painting styles, based on memory and photographs.

“One is abstract, which is more an inner journey, a dance with the paint, often inspired by memories, or an emotion combined with imagination to create a flowing abstract image where elements of the Irish landscape are intertwined.

Then there are my more realistic landscape paintings, which are often made outdoors. The south coast of Cork, such as Garrettstown and Ballycotton, are some of my favourite spots to paint.

The three artists have also created two concertina-style artists’ books. One of them was purchased by NIVAL (the National Irish Visual Art Library) which will be included in the collection of the NCAD (National College of Art and Design). The second one is currently on display in Olivia’s gallery in The Netherlands and has been brought to Cork for the Kinsale exhibition. It includes excerpts from Olivia’s poetry collection, Celtic Ramblings.

The Olivia O’Keeffe Gallery, Art Centre & Studio is in the centre of Houten, a small town by Dutch standards with a population of 50,000. It’s in a shopping street where many of the businesses have closed down.

I acquired the space rent-free just by asking. It was another one of my mad ideas which grew out of my need for my own space after sharing a studio for many years in a building full of creatives.

This gallery space is temporary.

“At the drop of a hat, I may need to vacate, but three years on, I’m still here. It’s quite typical for artists in Holland to acquire temporary spaces that may be changing function and are due to be knocked. In the in-between stage, they get filled by artists for a low price.”

Asked how artists are regarded in The Netherlands, Olivia says: “I find it difficult to compare the situation for artists in Ireland and that of Holland, having moved away from Ireland when I was still an art student.

“I think it’s similar. For example, during Covid, there were extra grants available that artists could apply for to compensate for the reduction in income. It was a minimal amount but it helped.”

Olivia gives art classes to children, the proceeds of which she doesn’t have to pay tax on. She says it seems as if “a large percentage of the Dutch population are artists. It’s not seen as unusual at all. There are way more artists and way more galleries to choose from than in Ireland.

I’m beginning to see Ireland as having a very small network of artists, very limited options gallery-wise for emerging artists, with the whole country being much more condensed.

Olivia adds that “the same handful of artists exhibit in the same galleries throughout the country.”

Having attended Watergrasshill National School, followed by the Loreto Convent in Fermoy, Olivia says her artistic talent was neither encouraged nor discouraged.

“It was all pretty neutral. I did however sign up for extra art classes in Loreto when I was contemplating going to art college and thought about developing a portfolio.”

But, in the end, Olivia stopped going to the extra classes to focus on her honours Leaving Cert subjects.

Olivia’s eldest son, 18-year-old Aidan, is in his first year of college studying IT.

“He has always had amazing 3D insight and is very creative. However, nowadays his creativity goes into his hobby as a gaming YouTuber, editing images. Finn is 14 and is also very creative. He gets very high marks for art and music. He often creates costumes and accessories for figures such as Batman or for his own characters based on stories and scripts he writes for his own future films. He is interested in becoming an actor, writer and director. He may want to study in Ireland.”

In terms of the career advice Olivia gives to her sons and her young students, she stresses the importance of following whatever path they are passionate about.

I do warn that creative careers are more challenging due to the lack of financial security. But following your heart is more rewarding.

Spoken by one who knows.

For more about Olivia’s work, see https://www.oliviaokeeffe.com/