From lines on maps to drinking coffee, knowledge and power are integral to this work.

The State of RoY, the first solo exhibition by Michelle McBride, explores entrenched notions of history, tradition and destruction.

What is now the Republic of Yemen has had a long and changeable history. Yemen borders the entrance of ‘The Gates of Tears’, the route from the Arabian Sea, through the Red Sea and onto the Suez Canal. Beginning with the region’s tumultuous and rich history, a pivotal place in the beginnings and growth of trade through to modern warfare, the artist questions the value of commodity over life. Drawn to this part of the world by shocking headlines, this work is a journey of gaining an understanding of how these developments have affected the perception of Islam in contemporary western society. In a broader context, the act of war and homogenisation of identity which are personified in Yemen are areas of investigation in this exhibition.

Michelle McBride graduated from the National College of Art and Design in 2017. She is a founding member of the Kildare Art Collective and the Creative Director of Kildare Yarn Bomb. The State of RoY, her first solo exhibition, is supported by Kildare County Council and Riverbank Arts Centre’s ‘Emerging Visual Artist Bursary Award’, which she was awarded in 2018. For more information about Michelle, see www.michellemcbrideart.com

OFFICIAL LAUNCH Sat 9th Nov at 5pm – All welcome