Nationality: Irish
Telephone Number: 0035316279397
Email: cathal@hypnosis.ie
Web:   www.hypnosis.ie

Cathal is originally from Dundrum, South Dublin but now currently resides at his home and Psychotherapy practice in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He aims to project onto canvas his memories, dreams, impressions, interpretations and reflections. The wish of the hero and the remnants of history are to be found in his art, for painting is his way of answering the call of the interior world, his way of depriving the super-ego of that which is material, and of finding himself within the sincerity of carefully chosen subject matter.   

His art stretches outwards, capturing the emotive, finding the lyrical and his philosphy in life is “savour the moment.” His paintings, often vague and indefinite, give the eye the possibility of witnessing a fragment of deeper thought, and the mind an opportunity to regress back or move forward in time. The effect of looking at his artwork brings with it the concept of having a wish, or a dream. He believes that colour is an image, and so his landscapes, objects and pertinent ideas are creatively inspired by subjective experience, to be brought to bear upon the canvas so that he may understand the truth about himself and translate this truth into reality.

His love of art began when his uncle Ciaron O’Briain, an artist and lighthouse keeper, took notice of his nephews talent at the age of 12. Cathal spent many summers painting in wild and beautiful locations such as Mizen Head Lighthouse in Co. Cork, where his uncle was stationed as one of the last few remaining lighthouse keepers in the country.

In 1992 Cathal studied Philosophy of Religion, Anthropology, Aesthetics and Psychology at Miltown Institute, South Dublin. On completing his studies at Miltown he took up arts and crafts at Dundrum VEC.

He then began Presentation Design, Model Making and Photography in the Dublin Institute of Technology. Graphics Designer by presentation, he graduated in 1996 and worked for several years in the industry before returning to Painting and Psychology.

Currently he works as a Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist and part-time artist. He writes articles for several journals, newspapers, magazines, online health sites gives radio interviews on matters concerning mental health. His areas of interest are Surrealism, Mythology, Psychoanalysis and Music.

This rich blend of chosen study comes to the fore in his art, where texture builds in accordance with the revelation of each memory, impression or life experience. Influence of movement, light and composition are prevalent in the work. There is also considerable tension in some of his paintings, where density in texture, layer upon layer, reveals the hidden and hides the revealed. Influenced by the psychoanalytical work of Freud and Jung, he uses visual imagery as it surfaces to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.

His influences are Giorgio de Chirico, Salvador Dali, René Magritte, Man Ray, Max Ernst, El Greco, Claude Monet and Wulf Wickelmann.

“My heart instructs my hand, so my hand may soothe my head.”