Press Release
03/12/24
Nexus – a new artwork for Templemore Library & Enterprise Centre
A new piece of public art by artist Kevin Killen is installed at the Templemore Library & Enterprise Centre. Templemore Town Hall: Library & Enterprise Centre is a flagship urban regeneration project to conserve and establish Templemore Town Hall as an economic, cultural and community hub of the town, the District and the Mid-West Region. Nexus is a bold and colourful ceiling-mounted sculpture, welcoming visitors from above the reception area and fostering a sense of harmony and connection within the heart of the building and the people who use it.
Composed of lightweight steel tube materials, metal- and 3D printed cubes and breathing LED lighting, Nexus celebrates the diverse journeys of the people in Templemore. Drawing inspiration from themes of connection, inspiration, and sharing, the piece incorporates foundational elements from the local map - roads and buildings - transformed into abstract lines and cubes. These forms represent the community’s intricate paths and shared experiences, while the sculpture’s kinetic LED lighting and the play of light and shadow, mirrors the ebb and flow of journeys. Together, they create a dynamic visual narrative through the interplay of light, lines, and forms that evolves throughout the day.
Based in Belfast, artist Kevin Killen obtained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College (now the UCA) in 1999 and specialist training in neon making in Dallas, Texas in 2009. His current practice focusses on capturing moments in time, representing life and people’s journeys as snapshots of moments, often site-specific. His sculptures have been commissioned by public bodies in Northern Ireland, the UK and USA and have received a number of accolades including the Sculpture Abstract Award of the American Arts Award in 2014.
Commissioned through a two-stage open submission competition, Nexus was funded by The OPW and Tipperary County Council as part of the Templemore Flood Relief capital project under the Per Cent for Arts scheme. The celebratory artwork is a beautiful addition to the regeneration project that will see the Town Hall secured as a landmark building, which will provide excellence in terms of facilities and service to the community in Templemore and environs, a position it held since originally built by public subscription in 1816 as a Market House and up to the dissolution of Templemore Town Council in 2014.
(Photo credit: Debbie Hickey)
