JIM MCKEE

Country: Ireland
Title: The home I left behind

“The Home I Left Behind was inspired by the Irish Famine and the many ruins across the country that were once people’s homes. It represents emigration, loss, eviction and homelessness – issues still faced in Ireland to this day. This cottage is an impression of one in County Clare which dates back to the 1840s. There aren’t too many of these left in Ireland, so I felt it important to capture this remarkable snapshot of Irish history. The blood on the door symbolises the pain of eviction and the pink on the fields and the sky is to remember the souls that once lived and worked there.”

Jim McKee is a professional visual artist and singer/songwriter from County Tyrone.

He is deeply inspired by The Burren and the West of Ireland which has become his spiritual home since 2001.

Jim’s work extends across international solo and group exhibitions, commissions plus charity and community arts projects and murals, and as a recording artist he has performed across Ireland, the UK, France and USA with his songs featured in films and documentaries.

His work was gifted to the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins by the Institute of Technology, Tralee, Co Kerry as part of their UNESCO Chair presentation in 2015.