Henry Byrne

Henry Byrne (United Kingdom, 1985) is a visual artist who lives and works in Groningen. In 2019 he graduated from the Frank Mohr Institute.

“I bought pool inflatables that referred to islands and tropical environments. I then painted a layer of white over the inflatables and put this installation in crates. Why? I’m from an island (Ireland) and haven’t been home in a full two years due to the COVID restrictions. I miss it and romanticize it. In total I have been gone for four years. Maybe I don’t know England anymore and my view of it is frozen in my memories of it. I think of other islands around the world that have things placed on them. Like how my island has settled in other places like New York and New South Wales. They also have a perceptual layer, a Western perception. By painting the inflatables white I take their natural color and mask it. It is abstracted to its form. It is now hard to see under the detail that was there. This is why I painted inflatables white, it helps me understand how I see the UK and other islands.”

About project 'Lucht'

The corona measures have hit the art sector enormously. Exhibitions and art grants have been canceled or postponed. It is an uncertain time for many artists. With the Lucht project, Kunstpunt Groningen wants to support artists and designers from the municipality of Groningen. 87 Groningen artists have received a stipend with which they have created new work, including Henry Byrne. With a billboard exhibition from September 27 to October 17, we present all artists spread throughout the city of Groningen. View the work of the other artists here.