Siobhán Hapaska’s sculptures present a powerful investigation of conflict, faith and the human condition. Her work uses a dazzling array of materials, each loaded with history and multiple readings: olive trees, deerskins, coconuts, wheat, moss and sheepskin come into contact with sleek aerodynamic forms, aluminium, engines, artillery, concrete cloth and industrial machinery. Ushering these disparate materials into forms that feel anthropomorphic or animalistic, the resulting works spark humour and pathos, reflecting upon our place in a world filled with violent opposing forces and conflicting ideologies. Sometimes kinetic, moving or shaking, many of Hapaska’s works reference travel, rootlessness or displacement, with trees uprooted and plants cast among strange mutant landscapes of opalescent fibreglass. Though they carry a sense of disquiet, her works are always a testament to the perseverance of hope, desire and longing in the face of adverse global conditions and political or spiritual unrest, often undershot with a dark wit, a playfulness, and a devotion to physical objects as transmitters of empathy and emotion.
Siobhán Hapaska lives and works in London.
Siobhán Hapaska
Earthed, 2018
aluminium, brass, electrical components, acrylic
120 x 97 cm / 47.2 x 38.2 diameter in
Siobhán Hapaska
Untitled, 2019
carbonized oak, white marble powder, aluminium & acrylic twinwall channel
126 x 126 cm / 49.6 x 49.6 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Snake and Apple, 2018
aluminium, artificial snakeskin, fibreglass, stainless steel, two-pack acrylic paint, lacquer
250 x 215 x 205 cm / 98.4 x 84.6 x 80.7 in
Siobhán Hapaska
snake and apples, 2018
aluminium, artificial snakeskin, fibreglass, two-pack acrylic paint, lacquer
251.1 x 173 x 147.5 cm / 98.9 x 68.1 x 58.1 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Touch, 2016
concrete cloth, oak, synthetic fur, aluminium, steel, two-pack acrylic paint and lacquer
230 x 95 x 140 cm / 90.6 x 37.4 x 55.1 in
Siobhán Hapaska
winter sun at 19:48 hrs, 2017
aluminium, steel, concrete cloth, brass, paint
150 x 106.6 x 75 cm / 59.1 x 42 x 29.5 in
Siobhán Hapaska
four angels, 2012
selenite, aluminium, forged aluminium fittings, concrete cloth, LEDs and electrical components
150 x 100 x 100 cm / 59.1 x 39.4 x 39.4 in
Siobhán Hapaska
the recent incarnation of two advanced souls, 2012
aluminium, drop-forged scaffold fittings, olive trees, olive tree root balls, motors and various engineering components
97 x 350 x 160 cm / 38.2 x 137.8 x 63 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Bird, 2016
concrete cloth, fibreglass, stainless steel
100 x 110 x 100 cm / 39.4 x 43.3 x 39.4 in
Siobhán Hapaska
light lives in a box, 2012
solid aluminium plate, stainless steel fittings, mirror polished stainless steel, leather, brass, micro mosaic limestone, olive oil, candle wicks. edition of 6
dimensions variable
Siobhán Hapaska
a great miracle needs to happen there, 2011
olive trees “Olea europaea”, lead free solder, brass, steel, cast iron, 9 elements
dimensions of each vary
Siobhán Hapaska
the world at daybreak, 2011
steel, travertine spilt faced marble, split faced limestone, moss, aluminium
250 x 96 x 69 cm / 98.4 x 37.8 x 27.2 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Land, 1998
fiberglass, acrylic paint, two-pack acrylic lacquer, magnets, water, air plants, edition of 3
94 x 239 x 132 cm / 37 x 94.1 x 52 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Tick, 2009
steel gas pipe, fibreglass deerskin, LED components, slate powder in resin
196 x 214 x 229 cm / 77.2 x 84.3 x 90.2 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Sunlight, 2004
fiberglass, two pack acrylic paint, spent cartridges, wheat, edition of 3
103 x 84 x 88 cm / 40.6 x 33.1 x 34.6 in
Collection of The Arts Council of Ireland
Siobhán Hapaska
Delirious, 1996
fiberglass, opalescent paint, acrylic lacquer, wood, metal fixings, audio components
68 x 159 x 103 cm / 26.8 x 62.6 x 40.6 in
Collection of TATE, London
Siobhán Hapaska
Robot, 2001
lamda print on aluminium, edition of 5
121.9 x 152.4 cm / 48 x 60 in
Siobhán Hapaska
Inquisitor, 1997
wax, synthetic hair, silk, oil paint, chair, audio components, edition of 2
125 x 106 x 89 cm / 49.2 x 41.7 x 35 in
Documenta X, 1997
Siobhán Hapaska has had recent solo exhibitions at the Kunstmuseum St Gallen, Switzerland (2020); John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton (2019) and a forthcoming solo exhibition at Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin (2022). Her work has been exhibited at MoMA Ps1, New York; Serpentine Gallery, London; Espace Louis Vuitton, Paris; Singapore Art Museum; Museu de Arte de São Paulo, and in solo presentations at Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall; Museum Boijmans Van Beuingan, Rotterdam; the Barbican, Camden Arts Centre and the ICA in London. She has participated in major international exhibitions including Documenta X, the British Art Show, Glasgow International, and the 49th and 56th Venice Biennales.
Williams Collage Museum of Art, Massachusetts
Siobhán Hapaska
Siobhán Hapaska, 2020
LOK, Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Switzerland
Photo: Stefan Rohner
Siobhán Hapaska
Siobhán Hapaska, 2018-2019
John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton, UK
Photo: Steve Shrimpton & John Hansard Gallery
Siobhán Hapaska
some are nights other stars, 2016
Towner Eastbourne, UK
Photo: Alison Bettles
Siobhán Hapaska
Sensory Spaces, 2014
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Photo: Hans Wilschut, Rotterdam
Siobhán Hapaska
Siobhán Hapaska, 2013
Magasin III, Stockholm Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
Siobhán Hapaska
The Nose that Lost its Dog, 2009
Glasgow Sculpture Studios, Glasgow, UK
Siobhán Hapaska, LOK, Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen, 8 February - 21 June 2020.
Video credit: @arttv.ch
@kunstmuseumsg and @lokremise
The work of artist Siobhán Hapaska's (Belfast 1963) extends over twenty years. She works both abstract and figurative, with attention to traditional precision and contemplation. She uses a multitude of images and materials including olive trees which appear in her recent work. In Greek mythology, the olive tree symbolizes the birth of Western civilization. The trees also possess symbolic value for both Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Hapaska's installation for Sensory Spaces 5 at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen consists of nine olive trees that hang horizontally in space and continuously shake.
Richard Julin & Bronwyn Griffith in conversation with Siobhán Hapaska September 26, 2013.
Siobhán Hapaska, solo exhibition at Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art 2013/2014
©MAGASIN III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art
Filmed and edited by Stefan Wrenfelt
