LOCKDOWN 2020/21

Accenda la luce, nasce l’ombra

Composite wall piece consisting of 72 sections with embossed and printed lettering using letterpress type and book binding press

Loss of connectivity and nostalgia for past encounters and associations can lead to feelings of isolation and vulnerability. At the same time, shared life experiences creates a new social equality that connects us even though we’re kept apart.

2020

Desert Rose

Time lapse video 

‘Desert Rose’ is from a series I created for my exhibition ‘Earth is Calling’ at the Crypt just over a year ago. I’m sharing as I think it’s appropriate for these times.

My fascination with lichens and algae goes back many years. Rose of Jericho (Selaginella lepidophylla) grows in the Mexican desert and is known as a ‘resurrection plant’ due to its ability to survive desiccation.
The video which explores ideas of evolution, sustainability, preservation and survival in difficult circumstances, combines two contradictory elements relating to the climate change debate – ice and desert.
I’m also looking at notions of aesthetics and fragility – beauty both in terms of its ability to mask and mislead, and its power to persuade and promote ideas in a positive way.

Selaginella lepidophylla sample courtesy of Ildiko Meny
Music was created by Jonathan Lambert and video edited with the help of John O’Leary

AUGUST 2020

BIG CARTEL

New selling platform

I’ve now launched my selling platform on Big Cartel.
The selection will be updated on a regular basis and includes artwork
from different periods with background information.

http://irmairsara.bigcartel.com

2020

LOCKDOWN CANCELLATIONS

Due to the current situation my upcoming events and exhibitions have been cancelled or postponed, including those listed below.
Please check back for updates.
I look forward to seeing you all in the not-too-distant future.

EARTH IS CALLING touring exhibition
ENGINE HOUSE
Walthamstow Wetlands
1 – 30 September

INDEPENDENT HOTELS FAIR – CONCEPT LAB
OLYMPIA LONDON
4 – 5 October 2020

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF MICROSCOPY (QUEKEX)
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
October 2020

MARCH 2020

EARTH IS CALLING

Publication

Earth is Calling, explores the issues through a series of fibre art pulp works, contrasting natural, organic material with man-made plastic fibre. In other works micro-photography, film and time-lapse are used to produce her outcomes.

The project culminated in a large-scale exhibition at the Crypt Gallery, London (Oct/Nov 2019) for which the book was produced.

The book is available from
https://www.blurb.co.uk/b/9931607-earth-is-calling

OCTOBER 2019

OCTOBER 2019

Interview by Sienna James

Interview with Irma Irsara, creator of “Earth is Calling” and visual artist
by Sienna James

“Earth is Calling is an emotional response to environmental changes, shifting boundaries and transformation using fibre art paper pulp works, time-lapse and micro time-lapse video works.”

read the interview

NOVEMBER 2019

EARTH IS CALLLING

CRYPT GALLERY
Euston Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 2BA  
23 Oct – 3 Nov 2019

Exhibition of fibre art, installation, microscopy, digital / time-based video works, light and sound which aims to challenge, alter perceptions and encourage critical reflection on issues surrounding environmental concerns, in particular, micro fibre plastics and it’s current and future implications.

I will be working with others – composer/musician and lighting engineer – to explore areas of common interest as well as talking to a number of people from the scientific community.

The project also has an outreach component with primary school children (Netley Primary) and families (Alexandra Park).

OCTOBER 2019

QUEKEX 2019

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF MICROSCOPY

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Saturday 5th October 2019

Display of photographs by the The Quekett Microscopical Club with family-oriented demonstrations in the foyer of the Flett Theatre.

NOVEMBER 2019

MONSTER SOUP

THE BARGEHOUSE,
South Bank

THE BARGEHOUSE,
South Bank

Clip from time-lapse video work created for Totally Thames, Foragers of the Foreshore exhibition at the Bargehouse.

Music by Jonathan Lambert.Next chance to see the full video 23 Oct – 3 Nov 2019 at the Crypt Gallery (see above)

SEPTEMBER 2019

FORAGERS OF THE FORESHORE

Presented by Totally Thames

THE BARGEHOUSE
Barge House Street, SE1 9PH  
Tue 24 – Sun 29 Sep 2019, 11am – 6pm

Curated by Florence Evans, Foragers of the Foreshore will feature photographic portraits of mudlarkers taken by Hannah Smiles, and a chance to meet Mudlarker in Residence Nicola White.

Plus see spectacular work by artists who use mudlark finds in very unusual ways including Julia Fullerton-Batten, Raewyn Harrison, Susi Arnott & Crispin Hughes, Kit Harwood, Irma Irsara, Anna Borzello, Monika Buttling-Smith, Jesse Wolpert and Ashleigh Fisk – more details to be announced.

JUNE – SEPTEMBER 2019

PULPWORKS

MÖBELHAUS WILLINGER
Wörthstr. 32, 81667 München, Germany

JUNE 2019

NETLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Outreach event for R & D phase of the current project

Artist talk and workshops with Year 6 classes looking at microfiber plastic
and how artists can use their work to draw attention to environmental issues.

27 MAY 2019

ALEXANDRA PARK

OUTREACH EVENT

Family Outreach event at Alexandra Park with Quekett Club and Friends of Alexandra Park looking at bugs, diatoms and synthetic fibres

JUNE 2018

ZERO CELSIUS

Exhibition of Digital Prints

7 June – 27 March 2018
RESOURCE FOR LONDON
356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

Zero Celsius is a series of digital prints by Italian artist Irma Irsara recording the 2014 site-specific, ice-based installation in the former Victorian ice wells at the London Canal Museum, Kings Cross.
Working with ice, a material very much associated with the theme of climate change, the artist explores natural cycles and outcomes in relation to the surrounding conditions.

OCTOBER 2017

QUEKEX 2017

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF MICROSCOPY (QUEKEX)
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Saturday 7th October 2017– 10.30am – 4pm

Display of photographs and family-oriented demonstrations in the foyer of the Flett Theatre. More technical displays and demonstrations in the PA 135 Meeting Room.

JUNE 2017

ETCHINGS AT LIBERTEA

LIBERTEA CAFE
Unit G-12, 159-163 Marlborough Road, London N19 4NF
June / July / August 2017

Selection of early etchings completed at Accademia di Urbino, Italy
and Ormond Road Workshops, London.

Picture: Strada nella foresta 1990
1 colour etching – Drypoint, sugar-lift, soft ground
Print size: 30cm (H), 26cm edition of 30

JUNE 2016

SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW 2016

LONDON PRINT STUDIO
425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE
24th June – 26th August 2016

This year’s London Print Studio’s Members Summer Show offers snapshot
of fine art contemporary printmaking in London.
The show features work across the full range of print techniques, with etching particularly well represented. There is work by well established and emerging artists.

Picture shows digital print from the Zero Celsius series of images taken of the ice installation in the former victorian ice wells at the London Canal Museum.

MARCH 2016

ART AT THE BRIDGE #7

TOWER BRIDGE (Engine Rooms)
8 March – 31 July 2016

Celebrate female artistic endeavour with Tower Bridges ‘Art at the Bridge’exhibition. Now in its seventh iteration, this long-running exhibition in partnership with Southwark Arts Forum will display the works of 15 female artists as they explore the theme of‘Building Bridges: The Female Perspective’.

Retina Diamond Leaf, digital print, 594 x 841 mm 2015

JANUARY 2016

ARTROOMS 2016

Meliá White House Hotel
Albany Street, Regent’s Park, London NW1 3UP
23 – 25 January 2016

For a second year running ARTROOMS will be taking over 70 bedrooms at Meliá White House, a top 4 star deluxe hotel (closest station Great Portland Street), for 4 days during London Arts Fair!
The exhibition will showcase artists work chosen by a cast of industry professionals.

Attraverso l’organico, pulp, bark dyes, 110 x 91 cm 2012

SEPTEMBER 2015

IN THE OPEN

Murray Edwards College
University of Cambridge
September 2015

An exhibition bringing together a group of women artists and poets who practice collaboratively and variously as makers, performers, curators and academics. All work across disciplines to explore, through research and practice, ideas around landscape, place, ecology and environment.

OCTOBER 2015

ARTISTS DRAWING A LINE UNDER TORTURE

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE
Charity Auction at Bargehouse Gallery

Pulp work from the Watermarks series donated to the charity auction organized by Freedom from Torture which marks its 30th anniversary.

OCTOBER 2015

LETTER IN MIND

NATIONAL BRAIN APPEAL Oxo Gallery
October 2015

The Art of a Journey invited artists to respond visually to a journey that they have experienced: whether emotional, psychological, real or imagined – using a simple envelope as their starting point.
The concept of a journey is specifically relevant to artists as it mirrors the production and culmination of an artwork. Proceeds to National Brain Appeal.

SEPTEMBER 2015

BYOP BRIGHTON

BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL Brighton Dome
September 2015

Pop-up Brighton’s 4th annual event returned for a night of collaborative
moving image, projection, participation and experimentation.
This was my second time participating in the event and a chance to project time lapse ‘work in progress’ D-freeze.

JUNE 2015

PULPS

LAUDERDALE HOUSE (Lower Gallery)
Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London N6 5HG
Wednesday 27 May – Sunday 21 June 2015

Irma Irsara’s gift for emotional expression through her artworks has long been reflected in all her artistic creations, whether they be pulp paper artworks, artist books, print, video or installations. The work on show represents a selection of paper pulp works from the last 15 years, as well as a small preview
of her new series of photographic prints taken during the 2013 experimental ice and light installation in the ice wells of the London Canal Museum. The archival digital prints with their natural textures, strong electric colours, organic shapes and powerful imagery sit well beside her pulp paper artworks and display a continuity of Irma’s creative interests, albeit in a different medium. The ability to work across mediums when producing artworks while retaining a strong, identifiable visual signature is a hallmark of Irma’s creative output. – A Phelan

FEBRUARY 2014

vai

VOLUNTARY ACTION ISLINGTON
200A Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP
February/March 2014

Exhibition of paper pulp works at the offices of Voluntary Action Islington
which includes a selection of recent large-scale works and a number of
pieces from the ‘Watermarks’ series

image: Nel giardino delle delizie 2 – 100 x 120 cm 2013

NOVEMBER 2013

ZERO CELSIUS

LONDON CANAL MUSEUM
12 – 13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT
Nov/Dec 2013

An experimental, ever-changing art piece in the Victorian ice wells at the London Canal Museum. Work was produced in the space on a daily basis, using ice forms, melanix, organic material, video and lights, to create a time-based installation which reflects shifting and changing geographical boundaries as a result of climatic conditions.

The end result of this ephemeral work was inevitable but through the artist’s creative process and journey of discovery it aimed to inspire the public’s imagination. The only certainty was that the ice would slowly melt and, once again, become part of the water cycle, leaving the artwork to finish at the point where it began.

JULY 2013

WATERMARKS

LONDON CANAL MUSEUM
12 – 13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT
16 – 31 July 2013

Rising water levels – evident even along the local London canals – is the theme of a series of paper pulp works, a selection of which I’m showing at the London Canal Museum. As well as signifying the water line, the title refers to the ‘watermark’ effect incorporated in each of the paper pulp works, achieved by varying the thickness of the fibre during the making process.

I’ll be demonstrating techniques and running a paper-making workshop using edible plants on Sunday 28 July, 11:00 to 16:00 with the chance to make your own paper.

MAY 2013

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT

LONDON CANAL MUSEUM
12-13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT
Saturday 18th May 2013, 5.30 – 11.00 pm

The installation, Sciogliere e ritrovare, is an exploration of climate change using images and film-footage shot in and around London. The work incorporates audio of two pieces by the feminist poet Frances Presley, with fragments of the poems embedded in shapes of ice.

The video Città Ideale, and Icicle, a collaboration with paper engineer John O’Leary, will also be on show.

The Ice Wells at the London Canal Museum come alive on the night of 18th May with film installation, painting, poetry, ice sculpture and photography.
Arts on Ice is a night at the museum exploring the depths of the ice wells and ice trade which operated from the building during the 19th Century.

MARCH 2013

ART BELOW

ART OF MARCH
St Pauls Underground Station
CENTRAL LINE Platform 1 Westbound
11th March 2013 for a period of 2 weeks

Art Below is a London based public art enterprise founded in 2006 by Ben Moore. The organization works with a wide range of international artists and has an important position within the movement of contemporary art in public space.Art Below uses billboard space in underground stations to display artworks in London and overseas

AUGUST 2012

CARP

REGENT’S CANAL FESTIVAL (PandorArts)
Mile End Park, (The Art Pavilion), London, E3 5BH
July – August 2012

CARP is a sculpture consisting of 10,000 recycled plastic bags created for Regent’s Canal Festival 2012, Rubbish Art on 13th – 15th July. It will be floating in the lake in Mile End Park next to Regents Canal for the duration of the Olympics. The aim of the work is to create something aesthetic from rubbish, as well as highlighting the massive problem of plastic bags on the environment, including their negative impact on canals and waterways.
Solar lights and recycled cds will transform the piece at night.CARP will remain in situ until the end of August.

27 MAY 2019

paper pulpS

UNITED HOUSE
North Road, London N7 9DP
July – August 2012

Irma Irsara works in a variety of media, but with her own distinctive style. Her recent pulp works are created by layering dyed fibre pulp using handmade paper techniques, at a point where art meets craft. Having grown up among the beautifully chromatic Dolomites, Irma Irsara developed a language of colour
from a young age and this dialogue has remained the essence of her work.Each piece is produced by working flat, looking down, so the limits at the edge become a horizon and everything outside – the walls, the room – becomes the background to the picture, rough contours left to allow freedom between the work and what lies beyond. The work in the foyer of United House is an attempt to define the space using the ‘pulps’ to create an installation piece.