Abandoned tyre factory influence for painting and sculpting exhibition

A LOCAL artist is preparing to exhibit paintings and sculptures that are influenced by the abandoned Semperit Tyre Factory in Ballyfermot, fuelled by the exploration of the “connection of memory to landscape”.

Christine Carey from Clondalkin is opening an exhibition of her work, called ‘TURAS’ – which is the Irish for journey, in Ballyfermot Library next month.

Describing the exhibition, Christine said: “The journey [of the exhibition] is based on the workforce of a derelict site.”

She described how when she attended Ballyfermot College of Further Education she used to drive over the bridge that passed the Semperit Tyre Factory, and she said that despite it being a derelict building she felt that the site “still had a narrative to it – there are layers of history there.”

The National College of Art and Design graduate, whose father once worked in the Semperit Tyre Factory for a short time, said that she is “delighted, and absolutely thrilled” that her work is going to be on display.

The Semperit Tyre Factory on Killeen Road in Ballyfermot shut its doors for the last time in 1996.

TURAS will be shown in Room 1 in Ballyfermot Library from March 6 to March 24.