UK based artist and designer Ryan Mc Elhinney was born in Dublin in 1973, he is an artist and designer with a background in film. His eye- catching work has appealed to many collectors, with the recycling element remaining strong an integral part of all his pieces. Mixing the old and the new and highlighting themes such as the de-humanisation of a generation bombarded with images and a world full of a variety of conflicts, with individually and collectively that we are all subject to.
McElhinney’s work have been sold around the world; from Singapore to Berlin, each one unique and impressive.
Collection is inspired by the Heartbreaking letters of soldiers to their families.
Soldiers who never came back...
"This is one of the most personal pieces I have created. I would like to thank Lieutenant's wife for her support, and permission to use some these profound heart wrenching lines from her husband's letters."
Dedicated to all the families and soldiers affected by war throughout the world.
Hand painted on the canvas of used Army tents. Size 4.2 x 2.4 Meters
Ryan Mc Elhinney
"Death Letters"
(I prefer not to mention names due to respect & privacy of the family)
"This Artwork is inspired by the Heartbreaking letters that U.S Army 1st Lieutenant, left the for his baby girl (*) and his wife (*). "The Wife" discovered the letters on the laptop "Lieutenant" had in Afghanistan, two days after she laid her beloved husband to rest. "Lieutenant" was killed by an IED on September 2010. /react-text react-text: 56 This is one of the most personal pieces I have created. I would like to thank "Lieutenant's" wife (*) for her support, and permission to use some these profound heart-wrenching lines from "Lieutenant's" letters. Dedicated to all the families and soldiers affected by war throughout the world. Hand painted on the canvas of used Army tents."
MEANING:
"I saw a program on PTSD. I have never experienced war myself and never had the first-hand experience of its effects, but I wondered if I could express the idea of War and the effect it has regardless of right or wrong or innocent or guilty.
More of a wouldn't the world be a better place if we all just got on. I thought I could do this by visually letting people feel and see the effects war had on people and families involved."
DESCRIPTION:
"I started researching letters soldiers had sent their partners and came across "Death Letters" and was very moved by them and thought if I could recreate these in large-scale works of art it would really make people think and have a positive effect.
I want people to really sit up and understand that one death creates such sadness and loss for those loved once left behind.
We could focus on the loss just one family feels when a loved one dies. The real truth though is 10s if thousands of families feel this loss."
"Death Letters" Rights belong to Ryan Mc Elhinney"
McElhinney continues to push the boundaries of salvaging and re-imagining discarded materials and is currently working on a series of installations using empty shotgun shells to create epic imposing works of art that expand on his theme of War and crime.