Tina Whelan is a Cork based artist and studio member of the Backwater. Whelan studied painting in Belfast College of Art 1983 - 1986 and received a Masters by Research in 2021 from the Crawford College of Art. She has exhibited internationally and is the recipient of Arts Council awards.

Her practice began with painting, performance and film. Since, 2010 she has primarily worked in fiber art. This has led to her use a wide range of technical processes in forming, stitching, casting and felting her sculptural interactions.

"I have a deep curiosity about materials, their properties, and how these can be permeated and manipulated. In my work concept and making inform each other from the beginning.

I am intrigued by how hurts and memories get passed on through the generations and the complexities of navigating this landscape. I seek to create dialogue and provoke encounters for social change, particularly in how the female body is viewed."

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