Institute of Art Design + Technology Dún Laoghaire
Ireland’s campus for the Creative Industries

Danny Lalor Fitzpatrick 

BA [Hons] Art

Danny Lalor Fitzpatrick is an Irish visual artist from Dundalk, who works predominantly in film. Danny’s practice primarily deals with the conscious and subconscious state of the human mind. His approach to composition, the use of colour, and audio is influenced by his interest in cinema and its production values. Danny has exhibited in a number of IADT student shows, including Perceived Dimensions in IMMA (2018), Making the Intangible Tangible in the United Arts Club (2019), and High Heart with Pallas Projects/Studios (2021), which was presented online.

Sleep Inertia

My work explores the boundaries between the conscious and subconscious state of the human mind. The purpose of this work is to portray an abstract narrative, while also drawing directly on immediate recollections of dreams. The colour palette of the film, which favours blue and white light, is intended to evoke my experiences and memories of dreams. I am particularly interested in the turmoil created by feeling restrained or trapped inside the mind. This is expressed when the character in my film repeatedly wakes up only to realise he is still dreaming. Much of my imagery is drawn from the ordinary behaviours and routines of everyday life, but at certain moments, macro lenses are used to create extreme close-ups of specific details, producing the effect of a warped reality.


The Importance of the Role of the Artist

My thesis questions the importance of the role of the artist in modern society and effect how the viewer perceives it. The purpose of questioning this topic is to gain clarity on both the role of the artist and the effects their artwork has on society. By questioning the role of the artist is to question the morals and ethics surrounding their identity. Some artists have used the notoriety of their identity to cover up negative allegations against them and to further advance their career. While other artists have chosen to hide or conceal their identity in an attempt to let the art speak for itself.