Paul Darragh, Show Vision, 1–4 November 2023

In Show Vision, Darragh explores his love of classic musical theatre with the intersection of antiquated digital aesthetics. The collection of paintings presents iconic scenes and figures from twentieth and twenty-first-century musicals, such as ‘Hello Dolly’ and ‘Hamilton,’ in a striking, blocky, and low-polygon CGI rendering style.


These vibrant renditions evoke the early days of computer graphics, summoning the nostalgia of a time when this medium was in its nascent stage, reminiscent of works like Dire Straits’ ‘Money For Nothing’ music video. The artist harnesses the contrary interplay between digital and analog art, building each image in 3D software before translating it onto canvas using acrylic paint and airbrush.


The exhibition serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the ever-expanding world of immersive entertainment technologies, including virtual reality, Apple’s Vision Pro, and the new Las Vegas’ Sphere. By presenting timeless forms of entertainment in a digitally primitive style, the artist seeks to challenge the impact these technologies have on the emotional essence of classic art. Do these figures and scenes retain their warmth and evoke the same emotions, or do they appear sterile within the embrace of technology?

Throughout Show Vision, visitors will witness the artist’s exploration of geometric abstraction, where shapes appear to extrude while retaining a distinct graphic flatness. These paintings serve as a bold experiment in the manipulation of space through flat colours, blurring the lines between dimension and simplicity.


Complementing the larger paintings are smaller, more traditional works of geometric abstraction, symbolising the foundational shapes of their larger counterparts. These smaller works also act as companion metaphorical QR codes, unlocking the larger paintings and bringing the VR musical environments to life.


Show Vision invites attendees to engage in contemplation of the fusion of the past and future, digital and analog, within a visual feast that reimagines classic art through a futuristic lens. Visitors are encouraged to step into this captivating world and explore the boundaries of art and technology, where emotions and nostalgia harmonise with the cutting edge.

You're invited to join us for our opening reception on Wednesday, November 1st, starting at 5:30 pm. We hope to see you there!