Debut exhibition marks monumental moment for Limerick artist

A GRADUATE of Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD), Hannah Clifford is a painter who cannot see the vibrant nature of her own works, due to her being colour-blind.

This will change on April 9 at Hannah’s first exhibition, entitled ‘New Perspectives’; An Exhibition Exploring Colour Blindness Through Portraiture, where she will wear a pair of EnChroma colour-blind correcting glasses, to see her artwork in their true colours for the first time.

Enchroma, who create the colour-correcting lenses have sponsored Hannah for the event, giving her the opportunity to see her paintings with a new, colourful perspective.

Throughout the course of the exhibition, Hannah aims to share her experience with colour-blindness through a series of portraits featuring her loved ones.

Speaking about the exhibition, Hannah explained her hope that it will offer “a personal and thought-provoking perspective on how colour is perceived.

“As someone who is colour-blind, I have always experienced the world differently. Through this exhibition, I aim to raise awareness of colour blindness and challenge the ways we take colour perception for granted.”

Hannah has featured many portraits of her family and friends in the series, including her grandparents Jim and Evelyn, as well as her late friend Nathanelle.

Nathanelle was a fellow student at LSAD, who tragically passed away from meningitis while the two were attending college together.

In her memory, Hannah will donate her portrait of Nathanelle to LSAD following the exhibition, ensuring her presence and legacy remain within the institution which meant so much to both artists and shaped their artistic journeys through those formative years.

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Hannah described the meaningful impact the event will have on her, and how she hopes the audience will receive her works; “I chose colour blindness as a theme for my exhibition because for most people, colour is something they don’t think twice about. However for me, as a colour blind artist, it has always been a mystery so this exhibition is my way of exploring that mystery and sharing my experience with others. It’s also a tribute to the people who have shaped my life and a way of honouring their presence through my art.

“By sharing my experience with colour blindness I hope to spark conversations about colour blindness, art, and the way we perceive the world around us. The exhibition will be open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.”

The exhibition will be held at the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD), on Clare Street, opening at 7pm on April 9 with the exhibition running until April 23.