Phantasmal Gallery
Phantasmal Gallery
Geraldine McConachie
Echoes
2024
50 x 70cm
Acrylic painting on large rectangular canvas of a church, dog and hand emerging from clouds. Painted in neon pink, lilac, purple, blues and greens. The painting is based on a memory that feels like a dream because it was from a time of grief.​
A Little Bit About The Artist
A Statement From The Artist
Nostalgia, grief and food are common themes throughout my work, often using my art processes to act as a therapeutic release in relation to my experience of grief. I like to make my work playful whether that be oversized food sculptures, materials and techniques that I would’ve used in nursery or bright colours in paintings. Although the subject matter may be the opposite of playful I enjoy creating humour and a nostalgic feel to my work to comfort myself and hopefully the viewer.
I am currently working on a series of memory paintings where I paint the vague memories I have from around the time my dad passed away. These memories are uncertain and dream like, often blurred with nostalgic memories and objects from my childhood. The paintings are helping me piece together a traumatic time but also memorialise my dad.
Tell us about a dream you've had.
My dad passed away in 2018, I often dream about him dad coming back, I recently dreamt that he was on top of the roof of my house with a ladder that did not reach the ground, there was a cow watching me from outside. My memory of the time when he died is very vague, memories that feel like dreams because I cannot believe they happened or I was in a state of shock so was unable to remember them properly. My own subconscious is protecting me from remembering such a traumatic time in my life, but he appears in my dreams often, always on my mind but unable to reach me or I am unable to process the loss. The artwork I am submitting is based on a memory from his funeral where I returned to the church to collect bookmarks, that were the order of service, which featured a painting of him on it ( this is where the hand reference is from) The church was empty except from the priest and a dog running about playing with a ball. This memory is one of few I have from this time, and it feels like it was a dream.
What's your favourite movie or tv show?
Coronation Street (unashamedly).
​​​​What is your biggest influence on your practice?
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My biggest influences are food, my own experience of grief, body image and nostalgia for my childhood. My artistic practice is affected by the grief of losing my dad - I often make artwork to act as a therapeutic release and a way to try and process.
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