Matthew Shiell 

Matthew’s project centres on his investigation of visual narratives, observed from the way people occupy space. Due to his international upbringing in both Ireland and Portugal, he is fascinated by how geographical and emotional connections constitute an integral part of personal identity. These connections can help shape concepts of physical and mental space, and also memories of lived experiences. His work features line drawings of individuals, adapted from photographs and then simplified to the point of cartoon-like iconography. Through this mixture of varied groupings and spatial relationships, his work suggests the possibility of unspoken personal relationships between each figure. The figures are also presented individually in a video, flashing one after the other in a randomised order - suggesting a crowd that is simultaneously occupying the same realm, but are also wholly isolated. This can certainly can be read as a response to the current situation, when the boundaries of our very personal spaces act as a direct protection from potential threat.