Internationally-renowned designers and NCAD alumni, Aherne and Delany have worked together since 1998, creating illustrative and typographic knitwear based on narrative storylines that draw on their own personal lives, while simultaneously reflecting a wide range of social, cultural and political moments. The Electro-Fuse exhibition captures an edit of graphic unisex knitwear, including collaborations with a range of artists, designers, musicians and stylists. The exhibition also serves as the premiere of Electronic Sheep’s 2021/22 Electro-Fuse collection and this week sees the unveiling of a new artwork, The Kilburn Tapestries, which was funded by the Brent Borough of Culture London 2020.
The Electro-Fuse collection is populated with scenes from the eponymous Electronic Sheep comic – first created in 1998 – fusing a mix of the duo’s original stories with new tales, reminiscing on nights out in familiar music venues across London, Dublin and New York. Gig flyers, fanzines, posters and tickets that the pair have collected over the last 30 years are spliced together with their detailed drawings based on actual events.
Speaking about the exhibition, Anne Kelly, Curator, NCAD Gallery said: “We’re thrilled to be showcasing the work of home-grown Irish label Electronic Sheep, the creation of two fantastic NCAD alumni. We’re also very excited to be able to exhibit the work in person – the team at the Gallery deserves huge credit for the work they’ve done in creating a safe environment for people to visit the Gallery and see this striking collection.
“For this exhibition to be premiering Electronic Sheep’s ‘The Kilburn Tapestries’, which arrived to the Gallery this week, has further fuelled our belief that it is must-see show for art, fashion and design enthusiasts. The more than three-meter-long, detailed tapestry illustrates the untold stories of the Irish community in the London Borough of Brent, Kilburn and beyond and features music promoter Vince Power, tour manager Gus Curtis and Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy.
“We are also indebted to a number of NCAD’s Fine Art and Design Faculty staff and student contributors, who have supported us in the making of the exhibition and without whom it would not have been possible.”
Later this year the NCAD Gallery will bring the exhibition to Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris.
Electro-Fuse is currently open to the public at the Gallery, Monday to Friday from 11am to 6pm, and will run until Friday February 11.
