Dubai-based Artist MC Kirwan On Intuitive Painting, Pops of Joy and Art Being Infinite

“I paint intuitively, almost subconsciously. When I paint, it’s a breathing space for my brain…”

In honour of Art Dubai, which took place earlier this month, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia asked four talented artists to create unique pieces that would both blend with and become backdrops to ensembles with their own decorative charm: James Goldcrown, Betty Yaghi, MC Kirwan and Alexander Ermakov.

MC studied fashion design in Ireland and has since travelled the world working on fashion and film shoots. In 2019, she had a life-altering surfing accident. To manage the chronic back pain she sustained from her injury, she picked up painting and has never turned back. She experiments with colour, space, shapes and emotions through her abstract expressionist style. She is based in Dubai.

Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): What inspired your artwork on the day of the shoot?

MC Kirwan (MC): My body of work is inspired by the senses and by wellbeing. I paint intuitively, almost subconsciously. When I paint, it’s a breathing space for my brain. This piece is deliberately round, loud and playful – I experimented with both scale and shape for impact. I’m a huge fan of Daron’s photography and I wanted to complement his unique depiction of shapes. I love to work with bright, playful colours and am always looking to create little pops of joy and moments of happiness in our ever-turbulent world.

HBA: What do you love most about being an artist?

MC: There is no end, it’s infinite. I create for myself. That sounds really selfish, but I do. This is the time I give to myself, to my brain, to my thoughts and to my body. It’s my form of play and it offers me endless joy… until I have to wash my brushes! As adults, we forget to play and play is so important for our minds, souls and relationships.

My style of work is infinite, I can create hundreds of paintings in one day and none of them will come out looking the same. This is exciting and calming at the same time. There’s no retirement, creating art is never-ending, and it’s not capped at age 65, which is why I love being a part of this industry. I feel privileged that I get to play, to learn and to continue to grow whilst keeping a diary of my life through my art.

Find MC Kirwan’s work on @maryclairekirwan.

Compiled by Imogene Legrand

Photography: Daron Bandeira

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2023 issue