Kieran’s Speech, launch of Tony O’Connor’s artwork at the NSC in Mahon, Cork

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have heard it said that there are three people in this life, those people who make it happened, those people who watch it happen and those people who ask what happened. I am delighted to be on this occasion to be associated with Tony’s work, a man who has worked hard to make it happen.

I see Tony was educated at one of Ireland finest art college the Crawford College of Art and Design,here in Cork City, which has inspired many artists to develop their talents.  I see Tony has many family connections to the world of horses especially through the blacksmith’s side.

I can also reveal my love of horses being an avid showjumper over the past dozen years. I appreciate what Tony is trying to achieve. If you look at any of Tony’s work, you can see that horses are wonderful, genuine, honest creatures, whose power and a grace is so admirable.

Tony has I feel captured these traits and many others. They say that art has the power to stop, impress, make one question, wonder, dream, remember, be disturbed, explore and not forget – a whole series of emotions – all of which echo throughout the paintings here this evening.

To Tony’s eye, the horse is already perfect in nature.  He just tries to do justice to that absolute quality in his paintings. He highlights the natural physical perfection of the horse. His work results in a photorealism that is both unmistakable and unforgettable.  While these images speak volumes to the horse lover, the lavish use of the black medium gives Tony’s work a much broader appeal. Anyone who appreciates classic elegance cannot but be drawn in.

I see as well that this is Tony’s fourth outing to display his love of art to the general public. I understand this is Tony’s second time in this landmark building, the NSC in Mahon. It is highly appropriate that Tony be part of the centre of the community here in this building especially with his blacksmith roots.

Blacksmiths by profession are the centre of a community and perhaps at all times are up to speed on what is going on in their area. But the whole idea of a blacksmith being as the centre of a community can also be linked to the idea that art is something we all need to be of our lives. We need art to be inspired, to think outside the box.

What I love in Tony’s work is the creative thinking that was used, his innovation to display his work and to organise an event such as this. In the world we live in, the more people who pursue such work is admirable and very positive and presents us all with the question – well what are we doing in our lives to move forward?

Is there another artist in the room that has not being discovered yet? Is there an inventor in the room? Who are the next teachers? Business people? Ideas people? In this climate now is the time to stand and be counted? We need new leaders like Tony in every arts discipline? We all now need to be re-inspired and motivated to move forward. Tony, very well done on what you have achieved here.

Check out Tony’s website at http://www.whitetreestudio.ie/