Síomha Harrington Irish, b. 1997

Síomha Harrington (b.1997, Ireland) explores themes of power dynamics, co-dependency, and the intricate interplay between pleasure and pain. Her paintings frequently manipulate or exaggerate specific parts of the human form to underscore narrative elements, creating a heightened sense of emotional and physical tension. This deliberate distortion imbues her compositions with a psychological intensity, challenging traditional representations of the body and inviting viewers to explore its role as both subject and symbol.

Harington's works also investigates the performativity of femininity. Her paintings examine the relationship between women and the (often internalised) male gaze, portraying figures that both confront and subvert their own objectification. Through recurring motifs of masquerade and performance, Harrington critiques the societal structures that dictate how women are seen and see themselves. Her work often investigates internalised misogyny and self-image, exposing the tension between autonomy and external expectation. 

Harrington's compositions position the viewer as an active participant in the power dynamic of the painting. Her subjects do not passively submit to being observed; instead, they engage in an anti-voyeuristic act, knowingly returning the gaze, disrupting the traditional dynamics of looking. These highly choreographed scenes feel theatrical yet deeply personal - the artist often using her own image as a point of reference -, and they heighten the sense of both privacy and unease that the viewer feels in the act of contemplation.

Síomha Harrington is currently based in Brighton after completing her BA at University of Brighton in 2023. She has shown work in various group shows, including multiple exhibitions at Gillian Jason Gallery, Glyndebourne Opera House's 'Fair Ground', Eve Leibe Gallery's' Boundless Whispers' and Huang Contemporary's 'Sun and Moon', in China. Harrington was recently selected for Bloomberg's New Contemporaries 2024.