Jane Hughes and Selma Mäkelä
Painting Deep Time Across Borders: Artists Jane Hughes and Selma Mäkelä Debut Joint Exhibition at Uillinn – “Forward,” said granny in the snow – “Eteenpäin,” sanoi mummo lumessa
Jane Hughes & Selma Mäkelä
28 March – 16 May 2026
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre
Curated by Paula Barrett
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre is pleased to present Forward,” said granny in the snow – “Eteenpäin,” sanoi mummo lumessa, an exhibition bringing together the work of artists Jane Hughes and Selma Mäkelä for the first time. Curated by Paula Barrett, the exhibition opens on 28 March 2026 and runs until 16 May 2026.
The Finnish proverb “Eteenpäin, sanoi mummo lumessa” – “Forward,” said granny in the snow – evokes resilience and determination in the face of adversity. This spirit of perseverance forms the conceptual thread of the exhibition, shaping a dialogue between two artists whose practices explore landscape, memory, and the vast temporal scales that underpin our world.
The artworks selected for this exhibition position landscape as a site for engaging with deep time, a concept that stretches beyond human experience into geological and cosmic durations. Through pigment, gesture, and layered surfaces, these paintings offer tactile connections to that immense continuum. Their non-linear, dreamlike approach reflects the difficulty of comprehending such vastness, oscillating between figuration and abstraction as they move through memories, archival fragments, and imagined terrains.
Both Hughes and Mäkelä create composite landscapes, geological fantasies shaped by lived experiences of migration, remoteness, and cultural multiplicity. Their practices have been deeply influenced by time spent in peripheral environments, from Inis Oírr and Achill Island to the Arctic and Fogo Island. These places act as catalysts for works that weave together personal stories with broader ecological and temporal forces.
The artists share a mutual draw toward edge-places and a life shaped by movement. Selma Mäkelä, of Finnish and Cypriot heritage, grew up in London and now lives in the west of Ireland. Jane Hughes, born in Ireland, emigrated nearly two decades ago, first to Germany and now lives in Finland. Their intertwined experiences infuse the exhibition with a poignant sense of dislocation, exploration and connection, of borders blurring and time expanding.
Exhibition Opening and Panel Discussion: The exhibition will be officially opened at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre by Roger Hill, the Honorary Consul of Finland at 3.00pm on Saturday 28th of March followed by a Gallery Conversation between the artists Jane Hughes and Selma Mäkelä and the curator Paula Barrett.
Associated Events on Sherkin Island: To complement the exhibition, the artists and curator will lead a series of events on Sherkin Island, focusing on the exhibition’s themes with particular attention to deep time. These interdisciplinary, immersive experiences supported by Creative Places West Cork Islands connect art with science, nature, and embodied learning, fostering community engagement and inviting participants to reflect on time, change, and place.
Deep Time: A Geology & Astronomy Event on Sherkin Island
Sunday 29 March 2026
2.30pm – Geology Walking Tour
With geologist Dr. Bill Sheppard
Meeting point: Sherkin Abbey (2 minutes from the pier)
Includes an illustrated talk and slide presentation in Sherkin Community Hall, followed by a short outdoor session examining local rock formations.
Refreshments will be provided
4.30pm – Illustrated Astronomy Talk
With astronomer Magnus Burbanks, in Sherkin Community Hall
Ferry Information
Baltimore → Sherkin: 2.00pm
Sherkin → Baltimore: 4.15pm and 6.00pm
Exhibition Venue:
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre
Skibbereen, Co. Cork
www.westcorkartscentre.com
Press & Media Enquiries:
Paula Barrett, Curator
[email protected]