Raymond Watson http://www.irishartworld.com

Although I am based in Belfast I have been in countries around the globe for a variety of reasons such as: A four month arts’ residency in Calcutta (Kolkata) India, as a student in Uppsala, Sweden, I exhibited in New York, I found ‘brothers in art’ in the Aboriginal community, Australia and created site specific installation in Valencia, Spain and have working in schools and community centres across the Basque Country with the International Gathering of Artsits for Peace. These and other parts of the world have all provided great experiences and brilliant opportunities to learn.

I have exhibited widely in Ireland and in a number of international venues.
I am an eclectic artist who creates work in any media; I start with an idea then find the best way to visualise it. To date I have produced public artwork, gallery based work and site specific installations. Amongst the materials I commonly work with are – bronze, wood, clay, metals, paints and cement.
I have exhibited widely in Ireland and in a number of international venues in New York, France, Spain, India and the Basque Country. I have produced a number of site specific installation pieces in Ireland, Spain, India and the Basque Country and have produced a substantial number of pieces of public art locally; most of which have been made in close contact with local communities and schools.
Some recent and significant international and local arts activities are:
Sept. 2007 I represented the Northern Ireland at the 3nd.International Gathering of Artists for Peace, in Gernika, the Basque Country.
Jan – Apr 2007, Conducted a four month residency in Calcutta, India; during which I produced a large temporary installation, The Helix of Hope.
Mar. 2007, I presented and discussed my work with lecturers and students at Santineketan, The International University of Peace, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, in West Bengal, India.
My artwork is included in the International Humanist Art Archive, Melbourne Australia
December 2005 I was commissioned to produce an outdoor installation for the 1V Encuentro Internacional Artistas para la Paz (4th International meeting of Artist for Peace), in La Vall d’Uixo, Spain. A painted element of the installation is on permanent exhibition in the Municipal Library in Vall d’Uixo.
Sept. 2005 I had work exhibited with the RUA in the Ulster Museum Belfast.
Aug. 2005 I organised an International Humanist Arts event and the International Humanist Art Exhibition in Conway Mill, Belfast.
June 2005 I presented and discussed my work at the Foc Art Festival, Moncofa, Spain.
March 2005 I was an Arts Delegate at the Crossing Borders, Crossing Waters International Arts Project, Cork, Ireland.
2004 I presented and discussed my work at the Peace Pedagogy Conference, Gernika, the Basque Country.
2003 I represented Ireland at the 1st International Gathering of Artists for Peace in Gernika, 2003. At this same Gathering’ I travelled with an International group of artists to schools and community centres to conduct workshops with hundreds of local people.

 

I have also produced a substantial amount of work that is inspired by the Maze Prison (Long Kesh Prison), where most of Northern Ireland's political prisoners were kept.
This prison is now closed for good. I was held in this prison for
approx. 7 years (1978-85), and my work that uses the Maze site is
generally about illuminating a brighter future in our post conflict situation.