Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards is pleased to welcome two new art exhibitions to its Georgian and Sunburst Galleries: Repeated aHaHaH Hands a solo exhibition by Elaine Burke and Thirtyfold, a solo exhibition of work by Joanna McNulty.
In Repeated Hands, a new body of work, Elaine Burke presents a fusion of wall-hung drawings, installation and animated drawing exploring the boundaries of what drawing can be, creating a conversation between material and subject.
The work explores themes of motherhood, memory and female connectivity, reflecting universal experiences of care. Playing with ideas of scale and viewpoint Elaine hangs charcoal drawings on paper and canvas alongside sculptural installation and animation. Introducing domestic elements such as washing lines, an imagined bath and hand-embroidered textiles reinforces the themes. Her research-led practice expands drawing into new forms, examining intergenerational connections and the beauty of everyday acts of care.
Thirtyfold explores the relationship between time, architecture, and identity through the documentation of one home lived in for thirty years and the construction of a new one. Joanna McNulty merges past and present, examining how spaces shape and reflect personal and architectural histories. Photographs of architectural details and interiors are altered—folded, cut, and reconstructed into sculptural forms, then re-photographed as still life.
The exhibition features framed images, Polaroid composites, acetate sculptures, and large-scale constructions, highlighting the interplay between two- and three-dimensional forms. Through these manipulations, Joanna investigates the materiality of photography and the evolving nature of built environments.
Both exhibitions will open on Thursday 22 May and continue until Wednesday 25 June. Admission is free.